DELSU, Others Honoured By Nigerian Association Of Physical And Health Educators

By Ben Nwanne

Delta State University, Abraka (DELSU) was among twenty individuals and corporate bodies who were honoured over the weekend by the Nigeria Association of Physical and Health Education, Recreation, Sports and Dance (NAPHER-SD), Delta State Chapter for their contributions in various areas of Sports development in the State.

The occasion was the 3rd edition of its annual state award which held alongside the 51st National Conference between September 19-23, 2023 at the Federal College of Education (Technical) Asaba, Delta State Capital.

Receiving the award plaque, for the Best University of the Year on Sports Development, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Andy Egwunyenga, represented by the University’s Director of Ceremonials, Information and Public Relations (CIPR), Professor Ben Nwanne, thanked the Association for finding the University worthy of such a highly valued award and pledged that the University would continue to support sports development in the State and even beyond.

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Speaking at the well attended event, the National President of NAPHER-SD, Professor Mrs. Florence Bola Adeyanju of the Human Kinetics/Health Education Department of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (ABU) expressed the need for all members to give their best to keep the association which has been in existence for over fifty years running, adding that only the Executive Council members could not do it alone.

Professor Adeyanju who became the Association’s President last year explained that the experience of leading the group has been worthwhile despite the challenges.

The major issue, according to her, was the paucity of funds to run the association.

She told this reporter that she had been with NAPHER-SD since 1973 and participated in all her activities.

She insisted that members should do more in assisting the association financially.

The hardworking and prudent scholar and administrator that she is, Professor Mrs. Adeyanju puts her enormous good will at the disposal of the physical and health educators.

“I source for funds here and there, my friends, colleagues, family have been cooperative”, she told this reporter.

“I am never discouraged. God is always helping me.”

She regretted that the subject of Physical and Health Education was almost dead, which explained the association’s recent emphasis on capacity building of which the FCT Secondary Education Department has been of immense financial assistance.

The soft-spoken mother figure informed that NAPHER-SD had made tremendous in-roads into the Internet, adding, that “we are no longer analogue, but digital and we are visible internationally”.

She hinted that if the on-going review process was taken to its logical conclusion, those seeking to be members would be required to write examinations, like some other professional bodies.

“If you say you are a professional, why can’t you write an examination to qualify?, she asked rhetorically.

Speaking at the occasion, the State Chairman of NAPHER-SD, Godspower Odedede noted that Delta State, apart from being known for oil and gas, is also popular as the citadel of Sports development in Nigeria.

He explained that the vision of the association “was to develop sports via deliberate focus on grassroots sports which is one of the pillars of NAPHER-SD today”.

According to the sports entrepreneur, the Delta State Chapter initiated the State NAPHER-SD Award Ceremony “to celebrate Deltans who have distinguished themselves in principles and practices of sports.”

Many distinguished personalities were at the occasion including Professor Johnbull Tonukari, Delta State Commissioner for higher Education; Chief Tonobok Okowa, Chairman, Delta State Sports Commission; Mrs. Rose Ezewu, Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education in the State, who were ably represented.

Other attendees from the academia were Professor Joshua Ifekuem, 2nd Vice President and Dean of Education, Faculty of Education at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN); Professor Emmanuel Ojeme, a past President and the immediate past Provost of the College of Physical Education, Mosogar who recently retired from the services of the University of Benin, Benin City; Professor Amina Kaidal of the University of Maiduguri; Prof. Pat Oyeniyi of Ekiti State University; Prof. Julius Guani of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (ABU) and Professor Ochuko Nabofa of the Department of Kinetics, Recreation and Sports Science Education of Delta State University Abraka who was awarded the best Head of Department of the Year, and delivered a keynote address entitled “Adapting Emerging Trends in the Professional Training and Practice of NAPHER-SD for sustainable development”.