CAA Signs Agreement with AFN on UNIPORT Training Centre

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), on the establishment of a high performance training centre at the University of Port Harcourt.
The IAAF certified centre, the first of its kind in Africa, is nearing completion at the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) main campus in the Garden City.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, which was one of the highpoint of the just concluded 2014 African Athletics Championships in Marrakech, Morocco, the President of CAA, Hamad Kalkaba Malboum, revealed that the African athletics body and world body, IAAF, decided to establish the centre at the UNIPORT “because it will give athletes the opportunity to train and study, “this has been our dream for so long, but I thank God that the dream is now a reality.’’
Kaikaba said countries with rich tradition in track and field in Africa like Nigeria and South Africa, must assist smaller countries to achieve their potentials by providing assistance in all areas.

The Nigerian government was represented by the Minister at the Embassy of Nigeria in Morocco, Lawal Bappah, President of AFN, Solomon Ogba, Director of Sports, University of Port Harcourt, Dr. Ken Anuwegje, Technical Director of the AFN, Navy Commodore Omatseye Nesiama, Special Assistant to Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mary Onyali-Omagbemi and a Director at the NSC, Hawa Kulu-Akinyemi.

Speaking of behalf of the delegation, Kulu-Akinyemi expressed thanks to the IAAF and the CAA for establishing the center in Nigeria.
Akinyemi who signed on behalf of Nigeria said she is 100 per cent sure that the centre will be a success because in its infancy, the centre has produced potential world-beaters like Ese Brume, winner of the women’s long jump gold medals at both Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and Marrakech 2014 Africa Athletics Championships and Divine Oduduru, winner of the silver medal in the 200m at the IAAF World Junior Championships in Oregon, USA last month.
Akinyemi said like Oliver Twist, Nigeria was appealing to the IAAF and CAA to send qualified personnel to the centre to assist the country’s athletes and officials.

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