Rugby
Idia College and Iyekogba Grammar School lift 3rd edition of Ehibam Schools rugby tournament
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BY NTIENSE WILLIAMS
The much talked about 3rd edition of the Ehibam Schools Rugby Tournament might have come and gone, but it’s memories will linger much longer in the minds of the participating pupils.
The third edition of the premier schools rugby championship in Benin City was held at the “Home of Rugby” – Edo Boys High School on Thursday 1st of December 2022 from 10am to 5pm with four invited Schools from both genders namely
1. EDO BOYS HIGH SCH, 2. IYEKOGBA SEC SCH, 3. ASORO GRAMMER SCH, 4. IHOGBE SEC SCH competed in the boys category, whilst Idia College, 2. Emotan College, 3. St Maria Gorethi, 4. Adesuwa Grammer School featured in the girls event.
IYEKOGBA Grammer School emerged champions of the Boys with 9Points in a round robin format of the Rugby Tournament. Host Edo Boys High School came second with 6 Points while Asoro Grammer School came third with 1 point as they drew one game and lost in two games.
Iyogbe Secondary School came forth with 1 point as well, but with less game point.
Master Danial Ehijeme of Iyekogba Grammer School won the clitering Highest Try Scorer Award with three TRYS, whilst Master Prosper Imonidhe of Iyogbe College Junior won the Most Valuable Player Award.
The defending champions Idia College retained the trophy with nine Points by defeating the other three teams, whilst Emotan College recorded 6 Points in two wins to come second in the girls category. In third position is new comers ST Maria Goretti with 1 Point whilst another new comer Adesuwa Grammer School came forth with 1 Point being a drew and two losses.
Ms Becky Okitipi scored 6 brilliant trys to emerge the Highest Try Scorer of the Girls tourney whilst Gift Uduku of Emotan College was adjudged as the girl’s Most Valuable Player.
Meanwhile Ms Becky also won the Tournament’s overall MVP with a surprise special award by a National Team Player Mr Monday Alex.
The event was graced by the Edo Boys Senior School Principal Mr OKHONINA O. alongside his Games Masters Mr Akinfolarin M Lumide of the Senior School and Mr Ifada Emhonsa of the Junior School respectively.
Other dignitaries present included a Rugby ardent follower Mr Ekpen and Mr Anthony Chukwuemeka who also represented the Ehibam GRIEFSHARE Foundation and made a pleasant lunch for all the Players.
According to the organiser of the event Mr Ntiense Williams popularly called “Mr Rugby” in Nigeria “I was so delighted to see the type of energy and spirit exhibited at this year’s Tournament. These students have a very good understanding and judgement of the beautiful game of Rugby!
Said he, “These are future players for the up coming Youth Games which Edo State Rugby Girls Team is a two time Gold Medalist”
Unfortunately some of them played barefooted to show their passion because they couldn’t afford rugby boots!
According to a message from the initiator of the program and the Foundation’s representative, Pastor Modupeola Irele “We are once again very happy to be back for the Ehibam’s 3rd Schools Rugby Tournament in 2022. It was launched in 2018 to encourage the sport of rugby among the young boys and girls from both primary and secondary schools in Edo State.
The wind behind the sail of the foundation is Late Ehisieme Alonge who was an ardent Rugby Player in the United Kingdom who spent a lot of time nurturing the young children in the beautiful game of Rugby”.
Said Dupe, “The foundation, with the push of the Edo State Head Coach and workaholic popularly know as “Mr Rugby” Ntiense Williams and his hardworking team of Coaches this year staged a superb invitational 4 female and 4 male teams tournament as a way to revive the Championship after the pandemic.
We are also so happy that the championship was a fantastic enjoyable injury free rugby tournament which cought the attention of majority of the host Edo Boys High School pupils and other students who throng the venue in droves.
We seriously look forward to the 4th edition next year with more pump and pageantry with the prospect of more sponsorship and most likely making it a national championship in the nearest future.
Our sincere appreciation goes to the Sponsors Ehibam GRIEFSHARE Foundation who have kept faith with us and the Edo State Sports Commission for endorsing the program and encouraging Rugby in the State, being one of the outstanding Sports Association that has always made the state proud in all it’s outings.
Rugby
Nigeria Rugby Federation Signs Multi -Year Partnership with Flovale Consulting
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Ahead of the kickoff of the Africa Rugby Sevens tournament in Mauritius, the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF) (www.NigeriaRugby.org) has taken a significant step in repositioning rugby in the country by signing a three-year partnership deal with Flovale Consulting.
The partnership will enable Flovale Consulting to create a dedicated channel and focus efforts on making rugby one of the most popular sports in Nigeria, while also promoting the development of both body and mind. This collaboration aims to lay a strong foundation for the future growth of Nigerian rugby.
“We are passionate about developing rugby as a government agency responsible for the promotion and development of the game in Nigeria,” said NRFF President Dr. Ademola Are. “This partnership will advance rugby in Nigeria through a unified plan that benefits all levels of the game, from community and professional rugby clubs to unions, regions, commercial partners, and fans. Everyone has a role to play.”
The partnership focuses on growing rugby participation, increasing fan engagement, and supporting players at all stages of their careers.
It reflects the NRFF’s ambitions for development and growth, addressing societal issues and values.
The collaboration will create development programs and age-appropriate training structures, ensuring junior players can develop their skills and passion for rugby in a fun and safe environment.
Volunteers and players will be actively supported to fully enjoy their time in the sport.
“We aim to help players reach their full potential and remain involved in rugby into adulthood, whether playing for unions or clubs. Delivering this strategy with our clubs, schools, partner organizations, and commercial partners will ensure that rugby in Nigeria continues to thrive,” said Opeoluwa Runsewe, CEO of Flovale.
Runsewe added, “As a corporate partner, Flovale Consulting is committed to driving growth and success both locally and globally. With careful planning and innovative strategies, this partnership is set to elevate rugby, foster financial stability, and achieve significant milestones.”
“We are excited about this partnership with Flovale. Collaborations such as this will foster the development of rugby in Nigeria,” concluded Dr. Ademola Are, NRFF President.
Rugby
All set for Edo State Schools Rugby Tournament
The fourth edition of the Edo State Schools Rugby Tournament is set to begin on Friday 1st December 2023 at the home of Rugby in Edo State.
According to Obong Ntiense Williams a head coach, Ehibam Griefshare Foundation will be hosting the tournament at Edo Boys High School, in Benin City from 10am – 4pm.
The Foundation has over the last five years partnered with the Edo State Rugby Association in the Ehibam Schools Rugby Tournament.
According to the initiator Pastor Dupe Irele, “We had a return to the field after the disruption caused by the Covid 19 pandemic in 2020, As such, to revive the program.
“The Ehibam Griefshare Foundation decided to help provide the basic Rugby Equipment (Rugby Balls) to kick start the program after the pandemic in 2021 and a subsequent tournament last year”.
Said She, “The Rugby Balls Presentation Ceremony was the Foundation’s way of reassuring the future of the program with its continued support and partnership in its activities going forward. The Ehibam Schools Rugby Program was launched in 2018 to encourage the sport of rugby among the young boys and girls from both primary and secondary schools in Edo State”.
Pastor Dupe continued, “The wind behind the sail of the foundation is Late Ehisieme Alonge who was an ardent Rugby Player in the United Kingdom who spent a lot of time nurturing the young children in the beautiful game of Rugby. To this end we look forward to the Ehibam Schools Rugby Invitational Tournament this year on the actual birthday of Late Ehisieme Alonge who passed on in the United Kingdom at the age of 35, on the 10th June 2015”.
The foundation, with the push of the Edo State Head Coach and workaholic Ntiense Williams popularly know as “Mr Rugby” and his hardworking team of Coaches will this year be organising an invitational 4 female and 4 male teams Championship.
We remain keen in our desire to work closely with the Rugby Association and by extension the Edo State Sports Commission in the development of Rugby as a sports for the social and physical promotion of the welfare of students in Edo State.
The vision of Ehibam Griefshare Foundation is to provide a helping hand to those in grief/mourning and help them to a “New Normal” life.
According to Dupe, “In his lifetime, Ehisieme was an ardent Rugby player and devoted his time to training children in the game. It is in fulfilment and continuation of this passion that the Foundation decided, at the persistence of Mr Ntense Williams “Mr Rugby” an ardent lover of the game, to partner with the Edo State Rugby Association in developing the game of Rugby in Schools”.
The Foundation is therefore proud to be associated with this project in memory of our son Ehisieme.
According the Organiser of the event Ntiense Williams, “This tournament has greatly assisted Edo State to be a National Champion in Youth Games Rugby events and in extension the Open Championship as well, like the recently completed National Women Sevens Rugby Tournament which Edo State Female Team won in grand style and made history as the only team to have played and won all games without conceding a defeat or any point against!”
Said he, “We will like to sincerely thank EHIBAM GRIEFSHARE Foundation for keeping faith with the development of School’s Rugby in Edo State. There will be two floating trophies for the winning teams of both boys & girls team. There will also be Medals for the best 3 teams in both boys & girls categories and there will be two prizes for the MVP and Highest Try Scorers to celebrate the occasion.”
PREVIOUS WINNERS
* Emotan College & Asoro / Correctional Staff School (LAUNCHING) – 2018
* Emotan College & Correctional Staff School – 2019
* COVID 19 PREVENTED THE TOURNAMENT in 2020
* REVIVED THE PROJECT WITH DONATION OF RUGBY BALLS – 2021
* Idia College & Iyekogba Grammer School – 2022
Here is wishing all of us a great injury free tournament.
Rugby
Africa Investment Forum welcomes Rugby Africa President to discuss the business of sport
The newly elected President of Rugby Africa, the continental governing body for rugby in Africa, Mr Herbert Mensah, will discuss the business of sport in a one-to-one fireside chat at the 2023 Africa Investment Forum (AIF) on Thursday, November 9 in Marrakech, Morocco.
The annual three-day Africa Investment Forum Market Days event will commence on Wednesday November 8 to Friday November 10 under the theme “Unlocking Africa’s Value Chain” in Marrakech, Morocco.
Championed by the African Development Bank and seven other founding partners (Africa50, Africa Finance Corporation, Afreximbank, Development Bank of Southern Africa, European Investment Bank, Islamic Development Bank and Trade and Development Bank), the Africa Investment Forum is Africa’s investment marketplace to accelerate transactions to close Africa’s investment gaps.
Founded in 2018, the Africa Investment Forum has mobilized nearly $143 billion in investment interest. The event brings together heads of state, business leaders, decision makers and investors to advance critical investment transactions to closure. Previous attendees include H.E Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, H.E Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa, and H.E Nana Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana.
The sports industry in Africa is experiencing rapid growth, with the potential to generate jobs, improve public health, foster social inclusion and drive economic growth. According to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), the industry was valued at $7 billion in 2018 with an expected growth of $12 billion in 2027. Despite the potential, investment across Africa remains limited, with only 1% of startup financing directed towards the sport sector.
Rugby Africa President, Herbert Mensah, continues to emphasize the business potential of rugby across Africa. Since his election, President Mensah has called for a change of mindset from African governments and international organizations to increase investment in rugby across Africa. In June, President Mensah delivered a keynote speech on treating rugby as a lucrative business venture at the Bloomberg New Economy Gateway Africa 2023 event in Marrakech, Morocco.
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