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By Solomon Nwoke, who was in Umuahia

TWO times Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League winners, Enyimba International, World Wrestling Professional (WWP) African Heavy Weight Champion, Osita Offor, aka De Ultimate Commander and World/Paralympic Heavyweight Powerlifter, Obioma Aligwoekwe, were among the beneficiaries of Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State’s reward for excellence weekend.

The event which took place at the state house, Umuahia, was a carnival as it coincided with the state’s new yam celebration. The Abians rolled out their drums, dancing in the streets of the town throughout the night in celebration of their heros

Governor Orji splashed  N25 million to reward the sporting youths for their excellence with Enyimba International getting the lion share.

Each of the 25 players and officials got the sum of N500,000 while the Team Manager, Chief Felix Anyansi, and the Club’s supporters got the sum of N800,000 and N2 million respectively for winning the Federation Cup which held recently in Lagos and for the excellent performance over the years. Enyimba International will fly the country’s flag at the CAF Confederation Cup next year.

De Ultimate Commander and Aligwoekwe received equally, the sum of N500,000.
The Ochendu of Abia, Governor Orji, in his remarks pledged his continued support and reward for the youths in the state who are portraying state in good light in their chosen fields of endeavours. He said the occasion was meant to showcase his administration’s resolve to reward excellence.

“Abia under my administration will continue to honour the state’s sportsmen and women who excelled in sports and in other endeavours.  I want to use this platform to showcase them for the world to know that great things are happening in Abia and for other youths to emulate them and stay off crime and start something meaningful for themselves”, he said.