The Nigeria Olympics Committee (NOC) has hailed the role of women in sports development in Nigeria.
The NOC’s President, Mr Haba Gumel said this while addressing newsmen in Owerri, on Monday.
Gumel, represented by NOC’s Publicity Secretary, Mr Tony Nezianya, spoke against the backdrop of the International Women’s Day, and affirmed the committee’s support for women in sports.
He urged sports women to continue to put the country at the forefront with their impressive performances in national and international sporting events.
He added that the NOC would always identify with women because of the laurels they have won for Nigeria and the potential they have shown to do more in the near future.
“I feel very emotional and passionate about the celebration of Women’s day and it is a thing of great joy that Imo accepted to host the event for the southeast.
“Women have done a lot for Nigerian sports, as seen in the last Olympics where despite not winning any medal, the women basketball team did so well getting to the Quarter final of the event and their head coach, also a woman, Rena Wokoma was adjudged the best coach at the competition.
“In the novelty game played to herald the International Women’s Day celebration in Owerri, the women team equalised barely two minutes after the men had taken the lead; the impression the men had created before the game was that they would beat them 10-0, but they struggled all through “, he said.
The NOC boss asked that more chances be given to the women folk to enable them achieve their potential.
Speaking, Mrs Pat Anyanwu of the NOC’ Women’s Commission, Federal University of Technology Owerri, said she was glad that Imo got the nod to host the rest of the South East and she thanked stakeholders for facilitating the hosting right.
She advised women neither to see themselves as second fiddle nor be relegated or intimidated.
“I feel elevated and I am thankful to my President, Professor Florence Adeaju, and my Secretary who supported the move to bring one to the South East and Owerri was chosen as the centre.
” Women should not be relegated and should not be intimidated because God has created us and he knows why he did that “, she said. Our correspondent reports that in addition to a friendly football match between the men and women which ended in a 1-1 draw, there was also free medical check-up for all in attendance.