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Obaseki Adopts 400m runner, Eraiyokan

Published

4 years ago

March 22, 2021

Nigeria’s preparations for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Games have been given a major boost by the Edo State Governor Mr. Godwin Obaseki following his adoption of Quarter miler Orukpe Eraiyokan.

The Governor made a final financial commitment for the adoption of the UK -based athlete after a meeting with the Minister of Youth and Sports Development Chief Sunday Dare in Benin last Friday.

Eraiyokan who specializes in the 400m and 4×400m relay is one of Nigeria’s current fastest quarter-miler and could be the anchor for Nigeria’s Medal hope at the Olympics.

The athlete expressed appreciation to the Minister and the Edo State Governor for the confidence re-imposed in him, assuring that he would not let the country down.

The Minister said while this would ginger the athletes to podium performance, other Governors, Corporate bodies, and philanthropists should emulate the Governor by adopting more athletes ahead of the Olympics.

The athlete is expected to compete for Edo State at the National Sports Festival which holds from April 2nd- 14th to fine-tune preparations for the Olympics.

Several athletes were on the verge of being adopted last year before the covid-19 pandemic led to the shutdown of businesses and sporting activities.

The Adoption Program is an initiative of the Minister to secure funding for athletes to enable them to prepare for the Olympics.

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NSF: Oparaoji, Ekpeyong, Quadri Gear Up for Tough Quarterfinal Clashes in Abeokuta

Published

1 week ago

May 23, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The tennis courts at the ongoing National Sports Festival in Abeokuta are buzzing with intensity as the competition hits the quarterfinal stage in both the men’s and women’s singles events, following a gripping round of 16.

Men’s Singles Quarterfinals:

Abubakar Yusuf of FCT will square off against Rivers State’s Abua Canice. Yusuf booked his spot with a 4-0, 4-2 win over Ehigiamusoe Endurance of Edo, while Canice cruised past Azi David 4-1, 4-0.

Bayelsa’s Uche Oparaoji faces Adeleye Daniel of Ekiti in a clash of skill and strategy. Oparaoji outclassed Urenyang Nuhu of Taraba 4-1, 4-2, just as Adeleye powered past Kaduna’s Ibrahim Sulaiman with the same scoreline.

In one of the most anticipated ties, Danjuma Lucky (FCT) will lock horns with Bayelsa’s top seed David Ekpeyong. Danjuma came through a thrilling contest against Ekiti’s Abamu Matthew, rallying to win 1-4, 4-2, 10-5, while Ekpeyong dominated Taraba’s Rubi Toba 4-0, 4-2.

Home favourite Christopher Bulus of Ogun will battle Edo’s Michael Chima for a semifinal ticket. Bulus swept past Rivers’ Timibra Godsgift 4-1, 4-0, while Chima triumphed over Delta’s Iloputa Ikechukwu in a straight-set win.

Women’s Singles Quarterfinals:

Delta’s Barakat Quadri, fresh off a 4-1, 4-0 win over Rebecca Ekpeyong of Bayelsa, will face rising star Emmanuel Bright of the IJA (Invited Junior Athletes), who overcame Rivers’ Maxwell Timipre 4-2, 5-3.

Edo’s Omotayo Blessing will battle Akwa Ibom’s Udoffa Mary in what promises to be a fiery encounter. Omotayo brushed aside Ekiti’s Adeusi Jesutoyosi 4-0, 4-1, while Udoffa outplayed Moses Favour of Kaduna 5-3, 4-0.

Elsewhere, Ogunjobi Success of Ekiti will test her mettle against Aina Goodnews of IJA, and Akwa Ibom’s Etoro Bassey faces Ogun’s Yakubu Ohunene in a South-South vs South-West showdown.

With the quarterfinals locked in, tennis fans are in for a thrilling ride as the battle for medals intensifies under the Abeokuta sun.

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