Ag. VC UNIZIK, Arinze-Umeobi to Institutes Special Prize for Best Performing Discus Throwers, Lauds SWAN Anambra Chapter, Receives Members
By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu
Prof. Carol Arinze-Umeobi, Ag. Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka has announced her intention to institute special prize for best performing discus throwers at the Nigeria University Games (NUGA).
Arinze-Umeobi made the disclosure when she received members of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Anambra in her office on Tuesday, 8th October 2024.
The Ag. Vice Chancellor who recalled how her Performance in the discus event at National Sports Festival in 1977 opened the floodgates of positive fortunes for her said she owed her success in life to sports.
She described herself as a passionate lover of sports who would do all she could do support athletes in whatever way she could.
According to her, I started with sprints but later, Idiscovered that I had advantage in throws, so I competed in women category of discus at Kaduna 1977 because I was 20 at that time
At that festival, I broke the national record in the discus with 41.18m at that time, a very difficult feat I must say,
‘I want to endow the prize for the highest performer in discus during University sports competitions,” she said.
Arinze-Umeobi expressed gratitude for the visit of SWAN members in Anambra and commended sports journalists for their positive role in the sector.
The VC who promised to partner with SWAN said she owed her achievement in life through sports to a particular sports journalist who covered her activities at Kada 77.
‘I remember, one Aniette Ekong from Cross River who covered my activities at Kada 77, he was the person who painstakingly wrote a full centre page newspaper publication of my record at the games.
‘That publication gave me a lot of benefit, I traveled to America, Australia and others parts of the world for so many events on invitation and also got a sports scholarship.
‘I do not know where he is now but I would like you people to locate Anniete Ekong for me because whatever I am today, he contributed to it,’ She said
Earlier in his remark,
Chimezie Anaso, Chairman of SWAN, Anambra congratulated the VC on her appointment and being the first female to be so appointed in the institution.
Chimezie said Arinze-Umeobi had not only excel academically, she was also an iconic sports personality who ruled your world in sports as an undergraduate.
He urged her to use position to lay the foundation for making Unizik the sports hub at the tertiary education level in the Southeast.
‘We will be happy that you consider this humble charge as part of your footprints in this university.
‘We extend our hands of partnership to Unizik in the promotion of sports in the University,” he saidizik in the promotion of sports in the University,” he said
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