Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN, President, Evangelist Solomon Omamoezi Ogba is one fellow I feel has been unfairly under-celebrated in Nigeria. A consummate politician and sports administrator par excellence, Ogba, who has bagged a variety of academic qualifications, is currently pursuing a Doctorate Degree in Sports Management from the United States Sports Academy, Damphine, Alabama, United States of America.

But Ogba’s pedigree can by no means be encapsulated within his academic profile. He is, without an iota of a doubt, a go-getter of uncommon achievement in public service.

Ogba was at a time, Sole Administrator of Sports in Delta before becoming Commissioner of Sports, two roles in which he recorded enviable successes, having led the state to a succession of tournaments firmly confirming Delta as the pre-eminent sporting state in Nigeria. In his other roles, he has similarly delivered sterling commitment to achieving results in a manner unambiguously establishing his status as a performer rather than a mere benchwarmer. As for his achievements as AFN President, they crucially signpost a paradigm shift in sports administration in a sports-loving nation where scant attention is paid to real development of sports.  Indeed, his contribution to sports development in Delta State and Nigeria at large sufficiently sets him apart as the best Minister of Sports we have never had.

Ogba’s approach to sports administration obviously incorporates an astonishing zeal to produce results in defiance of the most profoundly contradicting odds, even to the extent of coughing out money from his own pocket in service to the fatherland.

The depth of patriotic stewardship Ogba has displayed throughout his sterling career in sports administration can easily be recommended as a template for rejuvenating sports as a unifier in our unfortunately critically divided nation.

Having proved beyond all reasonable doubt that he is indeed a sports administrator of exceptional commitment, profound patriotism and uncommon resourcefulness, it is rather perplexing that he has, so far, not been presented with the challenge of being Minister for Sports. Indeed it is time for the appointment of our Sports Minister to be entirely depoliticised to the effect that a Minister of Sports may come from any state regardless of the preferred equality of states in the federal cabinet. Sports is so crucial to our nation-building effort that even when a Minister or Minister of State has been appointed from each state, the Minister of Sports may come from any of those states entirely on the credentials of his competence and exploits in sports administration.

Always unassuming, never rushing to the front to be noticed and obviously too busy and focused to find time for self-aggrandizement, Ogba comes across as a man who is simply too purpose-driven to bother about hugging the limelight or blowing his own trumpet. What I would any day consider a tragedy with respect to our interface as a nation with Ogba, is the fact that such a remarkably resourceful fellow who put smiles on the faces of Nigerians has clearly not been celebrated as much as he deserves nor accorded the quantum of honour he has undoubtedly earned. Where are Ogba’s national awards for his exploits as a sports administrator in a country full of many who have received such awards with markedly controversial credentials?

How often have we recorded gold medals from international meets to the relief and delight of Nigerians across all our convoluted divides as Ogba has done in the face of excruciatingly daunting odds?  In fact, it can be safely asserted that Ogba has most commendably effected a renaissance of leadership in Nigerian athletics, an approach to sports administration that incontestably places him in the Hall of Fame of Nigerian sports. In the process, Ogba exemplified genuine leadership as service and personal sacrifice powered by a vision for the common good.

Indeed, his preparedness to regularly make personal sacrifices for the purpose of achieving results that end up benefiting all of us recommend him as a sports administrator in a class by himself. It is most admirable that these are rare qualities he has deployed to the benefit of the entire nation in the management of athletics, a disposition that must be recommended to everyone desirous of a making a mark in governance and service to the general public. In a nation notorious for celebrating mediocres, while performers to whom honour is due are denied their entitlement to well-deserved glory, I rather elect to be set apart by recognizing and celebrating a true unsung national hero in the person of Solomon Ogba.

Mr Jesutega Onokpasa, a lawyer, wrote from Warri, Delta State.