Veteran Broadcaster Advocates For Peace Through Sports

Astute sports commentator, Dr. Emeka Odikpo says time has come for Nigeria to brace up and take the lead in the fight against violence through the instrument of sports.

The veteran Broadcaster was speaking in Abuja after bagging an award as “Peace Ambassador, Doctoral Fellow and Certified Sports Conflict Mediator” by Institute of Global Peace and Conflict Management.

• READ ALSO: ACTDA set to promote youth development through sportsDr. Odikpo said Nigeria is still a toddling enterprise in sports unlike what is obtainable in some African countries like South Africa, Morocco, Egypt who are leading in continental sports. ” For instance, In our league, win at home at all cost syndrome is dragging our football down. So, I intend to use the position I have now to penetrate into the league and have serious sections and symposium with club administrators and fans alike”.

  “As a certified sports conflict mediator, I intend to play a big role, especially in Nigerian football because football has gone beyond recreation as we used to know it, to big business.”

  According to Dr. Odikpo who retired as a Zonal Director at FRCN, said the award was a wake up call for him to contribute his quota at ensuring a peaceful society.

  “The awards to me at the induction as Peace Ambassador and the
  Doctoral Fellow and Certified Sports
  Mediator by the Institute of Global Peace and Conflict Management is a wake up call. The world needs peace. War all over the world; Israel in Gaza, Ukraine – Russia, and the entire Southern Sudan and Somalia, the bandits and Boko Haram.

  Therefore, When you look at the cost of war you will know that it’s cheaper to embrace peace. If there is no sustainable peace, there will be no sustainable development because war is destruction. So after weeks of training in peace education, emotional intelligence, alternative dispute resolution by the institute ones eye has been opened to the fact that yes Peace and cause of Peace is the path to follow”.

  PARIS 2024 OLYMPICS

  Following the conclusion of the 2024 ParisOlympics and Paralympic Games, Dr. Odikpo said all hands must be on deck at designing a road map that would see Nigeria take her rightful position in the commity of sporting nations.

  “We have a seen the conclusion of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games and I keep asking this question why is it that we don’t do well in the main Olympics and we win medals in the Paralympics. The Paralympian are they not Nigerians.How did we train the Paralympians there is something wrong somewhere and it goes to Sports Policy and Administration.”

  The veteran sports commentator whose choice of words the “Miracle of Darman” are attributed to him as Radio Nigeria’s commentator at Saudi 89″ Under 20 FIFA World Cup, advised the Nigeria Olympic Committee to desist from an appendage of the Sports Ministry and take responsibility of standing tall in decision making and implementation.

  Dr. Odikpo said the time to start prepare for Los Angeles 2028 Olympics is now!