Mr. Fan Ndubuoke

Mr. Fan Ndubuoke, the General Manager for Media and Communications for the organizing body of the 8th African Games, has stated that the publicity program for the games is proceeding as planned and on schedule.

As an example Ndubuoke mentioned the One Year Countdown program at Eagle Square in Abuja on October 4."That single event generated so much publicity for the Games and we are all happy about it.Now, no Nigerian cannot claim not to be aware of the 8th All-Africa Games" Ndubuoke said.

Plans are to run documentary type shows on television and radio in early 2003 to provide information on the history, mission and organization of the current games.

Ndubuoke is confident that all plans for media exposure from now through the end of the games are in place and operating as they should be.

Mr. Fan Ndubuoke, the General Manager for Media and Communications for the organizing body of the 8th African Games, has stated that the publicity program for the games is proceeding as planned and on schedule.

As an example Ndubuoke mentioned the One Year Countdown program at Eagle Square in Abuja on October 4."That single event generated so much publicity for the Games and we are all happy about it.Now, no Nigerian cannot claim not to be aware of the 8th All-Africa Games" Ndubuoke said.

Plans are to run documentary type shows on television and radio in early 2003 to provide information on the history, mission and organization of the current games.

Ndubuoke is confident that all plans for media exposure from now through the end of the games are in place and operating as they should be.

The general managers are Fan Ndubuoke (media/communications), Moshood Agbetoba (finance and administration), Mainassara Illo (operations), Chris Hassan (special projects), Emeka Inyama (marketing), Bolaji Ojo-Oba (games services) and Dr Sylvester Oboh (Games Village).
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The second paper of the first day, by the general manager, media/communications of COJA, Mr Fan Ndubuoke dealt with the media concept for the Games, and it was here that he revealed that a special corp of journalists would be trained to be media officers for the Games.

Veteran sports journalist and one-time Secretary-General of the African Sports Journalists Union, Mr Fan Ndubuoke has urged that Nigerian sport administrators should return to the institutions of higher learning to discover new potential champions for the different sports.It is also necessary to build up a vast pool of talent for the vastly â€"depleting national stock.

In a recent interview, Ndubuoke, who was invested with the award of Pillar of Sports in Imo State by students of higher institutions in the state last month, said his contention remains that the best avenue to discover mature, confident and intelligent sportsmen and women is the ivory tower ground.

“Iâ€m not saying that we cannot get very good athletes at the primary and post-primary levels of education, but by the time they get to the universities, they would have learnt a lot, mastered so much about life, become matured, dropped all forms of juvenile delinquency and able to learn very fastâ€.

Ndubuoke, also a former board member of the Nigeria Football Association, is at present subject of the imbroglio between the NFA and the Imo State government, as the nationâ€s football â€"governing body insists the Imo state government has no right to dissolve the Imo State FA led by Ndubuoke.

Thrice, the Imo State Sports Commissioner has tried to inaugurate a new board, thrice the NFA had stalled it.The NFA continues to recognize Ndubuoke, just as the FIFA (the world â€"governing body) intervenes in matters of political interference in national federations.

In this interview, Ndubuoke shows no desperation to return to the post, but contends that sports should be run by sports â€"loving individuals with the diligence and competence to deliver, and not fortunate politicians who know next-to-nothing about the industry.

SPORTS DEVELOPMENT:Fan becomes a Pillar
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Mr Fan Ndubuoke, former President of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, former Secretary-General of the African Sports Journalists Union and a former member of the board of the Nigeria Football Association, was honoured as the ‘Pillar of Sports in Imo State'.
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Students of the Imo State University, Federal University of Technology (both in Owerri), College of Agriculture, Umuagwo, Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Alvan Ikoku College of Education, School of Nursing, Owerri, and Federal College of Land Resources Technology (FECOLART) said they were honouring Fan Ndubuoke with the title for ‘his pioneering role in school sports.'

Last year, Ndubuoke, who was also General Manager, Media/Communications for the 8th All-Africa Games that Nigeria hosted in Abuja a year ago, had donated a trophy for a football competition among students of tertiary institutions in the state, which was the first time anyone would do such in the 28-year history of the state.
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I am sure that Fan Ndubuoke is still willing to contribute in more areas for sports in this state".

Mrs Phil Ugo, a noted sports financier, said: "The gesture by Mr Ndubuoke should be commended because when you're busy, you don't think evil.
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For Dr Amos Ahamba, of The Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, "the youths have been challenged by Mr Ndubuoke.
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I commend Fan Ndubuoke for what he's doing now; he deserves a pat on the back and should be encouraged".

‘I feel challenged'

The new Pillar of Sports in Imo State, Mr Fan Ndubuoke said Sunday that he has been challenged to do more for the students and the entire youth of the state, following his investiture by the state's students for his pioneering role in school sports.
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In 1993, the late Bashorun MKO Abiola, business mogul and politician, was at a function where Fan Ndubuoke was introduced to him as the President of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria.The witty billionaire, never short of the sharp take, asked: "You're Fan?That's good.But will this Fan rotate?"Those who observed the scene laughed heartily and taunted Ndubuoke for many years.

But it appears that the veteran journalist has learnt from that statement.He is now rotating for the good of the youth.

Commissioner confiscates trophy!

The story would have been comical if not tragic.The Imo State Commissioner for Sports had refused to release the trophy that was presented to last year's winners of the Fan Ndubuoke championship, the Alvan Ikoku College of Education, claiming that he had no idea "there is a competition of that nature"!

Last year, after winning the event, the school returned the trophy to the office of the Imo State Football Association after it was redeemed by the sponsor, Mr Ndubuoke, who was then the chairman of the FA.But after purportedly dissolving the board of the State FA (the NFA does not want to hear of this), the Commissioner moved in to confiscate the trophy.Without an FA Board in place (the NFA has refused to recognize the fresh contraption that the commissioner has put in place), and the trophy seized, this year's competition was in danger.But Ndubuoke bought another trophy and the students, gingered by his gesture, decided to organize the competition for themselves!

In a release signed by the General Manager Media and Communications, Mr. Fan Ndubuoke, the Adamu said in the statement of claim, that the plain meaning and impression of the two stories carried by the magazine are defamatory as they tend to portray COJA under his leadership as a scandalous and corrupt organization whose activities were to defraud Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He said as a result, he has suffered tremendous emotional distress and has become object of discussion and ridicule of the public since the false and malicious publications were made.

When THISDAY contacted the COJA General Manager, Media, Mr. Fan Ndubuoke on telephone yesterday, he pleaded for time to respond.

The new chairman of the Imo State Football Association, Mr Fan Ndubuoke laughed heartily when confronted with claims that he lobbied for the post before he was unanimously elected by the board of the association last month.

"Lobby?
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We have to see that we get more teams into the Premier League", said Ndubuoke, who was also Secretary-General of the African Sports Journalists Union.

He does not believe that we really have a Premier League worth the name yet: "Premier League?
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Ndubuoke supports the idea of an independent Premier League board to take charge of the league, different from the Nigeria Football Association.