The recent inauguration of the newly elected Management Committee of the Nigerian Polo Federation (NPF) led by the President Francis Ogboro has brought an overwhelming air of relief and expectations within the Nigerian polo fraternity.
The historic inauguration which took place fortnight ago at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja was witnessed by stakeholders, sports Ministry officials, business tycoons, traditional rulers, members of the diplomatic corps and polo enthusiasts across the country and beyond.
Ogboro was unanimously elected for another tenure as the President Nigerian Polo Federation (NPF) last December in Jos during the Biennial Conference of the polo authority alongside other elected members of the Management Committee.
Ogboro who had led the polo ruling authority for decades before now, pledged to re-double his effort in promoting Nigerian polo within the continent and internationally following his re-election during the Bi-annual Conference of NPF last December in Jos, Plateau State
The award-winning polo administrator and patron who received goodwill messages from the Federation of International Polo (FIP), The Nigerian Olympic Committee and the Sports Ministry, declared that Nigeria polo is one big family that will continue to put Nigeria in the international limelight.
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“I am truly humbled by this extraordinary expression of confidence in me as the President of this noble family,” Ogboro declared in his acceptance speech. “And the first thing I say to the Nigerian polo family in accepting their mandate to lead the NPF yet again, is to rededicate myself and all of my colleagues in the Executive Committee to the service of polo.
“My task, my mission, my commitment to the Nigerian Polo Federation is to lead it to the achievement of all of the opportunities that we have and to promote polo in Nigeria and reposition the Nigerian polo globally.”
He thanked the immediate past administration led by the Turakin Kebbi, Alhaji Nura Kangiwa, for its hard work and dedication, while calling for suggestions and ideas that would further the greatness of the king of games in Nigeria.
“The Nigerian polo family has made its choice, I on behalf of the Management Committee want to thank you all for that, as we start work immediately to justify and fulfil the trust that you have given to all of us today,” he added.
Other elected Management Committee members who were sworn into office during the Abuja event include, Tanko Ayuba (1st Vice President), Abdulkarim Jibril (2nd Vice President) the President of Jos Polo Club, Murtala Laushi (Secretary).
Also inaugurated were Haruna Ningi (Assistant Secretary), Usman Sa’ad (Treasurer) Ahmed Salisu (Assistant Treasurer) and Barrister Sambo Shehu (Legal Adviser). The duo of Hassan Gashash and Mohammed Baba complete the list of the new executive committee that runs the affairs of the polo ruling body till 2027.
Gashash, the Secretary of Jos Polo Club, Hassan and Captain of Yola Polo Club, Baba who sit in the new committee as the Ex-officio members, both pledged the determination of the members to working tirelessly to reposition the noble game of kings in line with the pledge by the NPF boss, Ogboro who is a tested and trusted polo administrator globally.
“The last few years were a period that started with a lot of questions about the future of NPF and Nigerian polo. Along the way, we became a greater voice in polo and built credibility with our members,” Gashash noted, pointing out that “with the committee on ground, a new dawn is beckoning polo in the country.”