When Niger Delta Report met Okao Uduagbon, he was brimming with enthusiasm and the glint in his eyes as he spoke revealed how much love he has for motorsports. Although motorsports rank low on the list of sporting activities of most Nigerians, particularly people in the Niger Delta, Uduagbon, President of Motor Sports Club of Nigeria, said he and his team of hardcore motor sport enthusiasts are determined to change that. He said they are committed to popularising the sport and elevating it into the mainstream of sporting activities in the country.
Uduagbon, who spoke with our reporter in the wake of hosting the first superbike race – the Edo Super Bike Road Race – said his interest is to improve biking in Nigeria.
“Motorcycle racing is the only sport many Nigerians are not currently taking part. We believe that if we introduce this sport, it can create opportunity for development of the youths, the host communities, boost tourism, and all-round economic gains for the country.”
He said he bought his first bike in 2005, but conceded that many people that have been riding for much longer than that, adding: “Some bikers in Nigeria have been in this sport for over 35 and even 40 years. So, in relative terms, I am a new biker.”
He said he chose motorcycle sport because of his love for biking, noting that there are about 5000 bikers in Nigeria.
“I am a biking enthusiast. So, the interest was first of all personal and we decided to find a way to make a personal interest be of benefit to the larger society. We actually started the motor-cross racing in 2012. Motor-cross is the riding of motor bike on sandy tracks and till date we have had eight races before we graduated to the superbike category which is the Edo Super Bike Road Race. The first Superbike race was held November 29th 2014 in Edo State. Our interest in motorcycle sport is geared towards making Nigeria be a part of the global motorcycle sports family and transferring the likely gains to the people.”
Uduagbon said his foray into the sport came while watching a motor-cross event on television, adding, “It just struck me like a bolt. And I asked myself the question, ‘why can’t we do this? I woke my wife and asked her the same question. I told myself we had sand everywhere and there are bikes everywhere, at least the Okada (regular motorcycle) version, it looked too simple to me, and that was how motor-cross took off.”
To test the waters, he did a motor-cross in 2012 and started doing a monthly event, which has now graduated into annual event and also have competitions during Easter celebrations. But having introduced motor-cross to Okada (regularly motorcycles), he said the challenge was to take it to the next level.
“Some of my friends who were super-bikers asked me to organise an event for them because clearly their bikes cannot do motor-cross races. So, this was another challenge. What do we need? We needed a good tarred road that would be closed to traffic for the period of the race. In road race worldwide all that was needed was for the roads to be closed for specific hours and the routes are often lined with spectators. For us in motor-cycle sports it looked simple and we said to ourselves let us find a road we can shut down for some hours and do the superbike race.
“Having enjoyed tremendous support from the people and government of Edo State, and that of His Royal Highness, Prof Gregory Akenzua, Enogie of Ebvobanosa, who is patron of Motorcycle Sports Club, we said let us go back to where our efforts have been appreciated and let them know we want to raise the level and actually engage in superbike racing. Again we found support and on November 29th 2014 we held the third government-supported superbike race in West Africa and we are hoping to attract motorbike fans, enthusiasts from all over the world.”
Uduagbon called for support from government, corporate bodies and individuals to help unearth and nurture the enormous potentials available. In three years, he said the body intends to make the Edo Super-Bike Road Race the flagship motor sports event in West Africa and to attack global recognition. To achieve the target, he disclosed that there would be “reasonable prize money” and support through medical and insurance, adding that such incentive would attract superbike aficionados from as far as Iceland, “because for those of us in motor sport adventure is, first of all, a key ingredient of your interest in motor sport.”
“You must have that sense of adventure. I did not find many Nigerians in Silverstone, but to get to Silverstone it’s like you are on a Pilgrimage, when you get there you will find that you are one of over 120,000 fans that have come from all over the world. I hope that we continue to enjoy the support of the Edo State Government because the benefits of a vibrant motor sport culture rooted in Edo State cannot be quantified in employment generation, revenue, and the feel-good effect. It will make the Edo man and woman and Nigerians feel good.”
In spite of the beautify picture he painted, the MSCN chief listed lack of awareness of the benefits the sport and perception that it is a dangerous game create a stumbling block. “I think a lack of awareness of the benefit of motor sport is a major challenge, but I accept this and we will try to educate the people to the benefit accruable from motor sport.”
He further disclosed that effort to get the relevant sports authorities’ backing had not been successful because of bureaucracies and hurdles. “The FIM (the world governing body) requires that in some of their competitions you represent your country, they say get a letter from the NSC that they can deal with you. So when we send participants for international events, they can be officially recognised as Nigerians. We met the past Minister for Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi and we submitted a proposal and we were told to set up in 24 States at our own cost before we get a letter. This is some of the peculiarities of Nigeria. It is that letter that is stopping our affiliation to the international body and open up more opportunities. South Africa has only four circuits, Zimbabwe has only one.”
In spite of the challenges, Uduagbon said his council is forging ahead, revealing, “The Evbobanosa locals where the superbike was held last year know the benefits of this annual race to their community, so the first thing is education we need to educate a lot of people that motor-sport can be done safely. Secondly, capital is another challenge. We will like to have more and better of everything. At the last race the biker bought fuel themselves, we will like that indigenous oil companies step in in this regard, hotels can also subsidise accommodation costs.
“I use this opportunity to appreciate the Enogie of Evbonosa community, Prof Gregory Akenzua, for donating to our club 130 acres of land and the Edo State government for giving certificate of occupancy and also the promise to build the first asphalt circuit in Nigeria. We are eagerly waiting.”
