Prisca Origbo has emerged winner of the 2022 Navy Sailing Club Boat Race sponsored by the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Yakubu Wambai.
Prisca Origbo, Popti Pataka and Joy Orji emerged winners of the 2022 Navy Sailing Club boat race as the three came first, second and third respectively among other winners that emerged during the race.
Similarly, Jeffery Japhet, Jason Japhet and Raphael Menekpo came first, second and third respectively in the Kayaking for boys category, while Benedicta Japhet, Nancy Menekpo, Amarachi Ukeji came first, second and third in the Kayaking for girls category.
Speaking during the ceremony, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Yakubu Wambai, has promised to support the Navy Sailing Club in organising boat races for development of aquatic sport in the country.
Wambai who was represented by Commodore Duke Edem said he also wanted to see more active participation of junior officers as members of the Navy Sailing Club.
His words:
“This will serve as a platform to acquaint the officers with swimming and other aquatic activities to improve their overall efficiency as soldiers and sports representatives during competitions.
So, I implore the executive to have more patronage of junior officers now in the sailing club so that they can replace the veterans among us in future events.
I promise to provide necessary support whenever the need arises, bearing in mind that the FOC Boat Race is an annual event for sailors to showcase their water sporting skills.
Furthermore, I advise the new excos to be diligent, transparent and prudent in managing the available resources at disposal while expecting maximum cooperation from the members during their one year tenure.
The boat race was conducted according to laid down rules and I commend all the athletes that participated for the safety protocol which was observed.”
Earlier in his address, the Club’s Commodore, Simon Mayaki, said that the main objective of the competition was to develop a sailing culture and sea faring skills among members.
“Our boats and sails are outdated and we need new platforms and outboard engines to power our boats.
In the last two years, the subvention from the Navy Headquarters that was given as assistance for the daily running of the club has been stopped.
Please, if this subvention can be reverted, it will go a long way at sustaining the development which the club has achieved so far.”
Also, the foundation Club’s Commodore, Rear Admiral Andrew Okoja (retired), said he was happy with the competition but noted that there was room for more improvements.
According to him:
“The boat clubs are the social face of the maritime and Nigerian maritime is one of the largest in terms of cargo in Africa.
So, we will like to grow the competition to involve participants from other sailing clubs to further give more publicity to water sports.”
