Judo president Nsirim seeks stakeholders' support

By Taofeek Babalola

President of the Nigeria Judo Federation (NJF) Prince Timothy Nsirim has called on all aggrieved stakeholders in the industry, most especially his opponents during the recently concluded election to support his cause so as to take Judo to an enviable height.

Prince Nsirim, who stated this shortly after he was returned unopposed as President of the NJF, described his victory as an act of God.

The former local government administrator had a smooth victory after the South West zone failed to elect representative from the zone, as Oshodi Musa, who has been on the board for twelve years and a candidate for the office of president and his rival in the zone, Bolaji Yusuf, a candidate for the office of Vice President had three votes each for five consecutive times.

Each zone is to produce a representative who will either run for president or vice president or just be on the board.

But in the case of South West, Oshodi Musa was eyeing for President while Bolaji Yusuf was eyeing for vice president; however, at the end of the zonal election to pick a representative, they both had three votes each meaning no winner.

And since Yusuf was not willing to shift ground for Musa or either way, they were both asked to go and put their house in order, thus leaving Nsirim as the only presidential candidate having emerged from his zone.

Nsirim, who is returning as president, stressed that his sincerity of purpose and commitment to the growth of Judo in the country was the reason why he elected and returned on opposed by the delegates.

“We need not quarrel anymore; somebody must win an election but after the exercise, it is important we work together for the good of the game. I have called my people. Some have responded while others have not, the delegates voted for me because of my contribution to the development of Judo and they believe I am the man for the job,’’ said Nsirim.

The Rivers State born sports administrator said his objective now is to take Judo to the grassroots and attract the cooperate world to partner the federation in the development of Judo.

He stressed that Nigeria can be the destination for Judo on the continent, if persons of like minds work together and not administrators who are after what they will get from the system.

‘’My challenge here is to take Judo to the grassroots that is why I want people with like minds to work with me and not greedy people who are only interested in their pocket. Multinational companies should, as a matter of fact, invest in Judo and other sports in the country because back in their country they are part of the x-factor behind the success of their sportsmen but in Nigeria they display a lukewarm attitude to sports development.”

Nsirim, however, frowned at comments made by a high-ranking official of the sports ministry, Mrs Tayo Oworeme, who said any federation Presidents who do not perform in his first three months in office would be shown the exit door and re-run would be conducted to fill the vacuum created.

“It is not going to be possible to start making progress after just three months in office and ease any underperforming president after 90days out from office that is not the way to manage a system. For us in Judo, we are going to sit down and works out modalities that will help us achieve our goals.”

While calling on the legislators, states and the federal government to enact and implement policies that will create an enabling environment for private investors to support sports, the President of the Nigeria Judo Federation, Prince Timothy Nsirim promised to put into operation, professional and technical advice that will move the federation forward.