The Chief Executive Officer of Monimichelle Facilities Construction Company Ltd, Bayelsa-born Chief Ebi Egbe has said the latest award given to his company would spur him to do more.
Ebi Egbe being presented his award of excellence
Chief Egbe stated this at the Bamboo Hall of the Eko Club at Suru Lere, Lagos at the weekend shortly after receiving the News Tap/SWAN 5-Star Award of Excellence.
Egbe thanked the organisers of the award for picking him as one of the awardees which he said is an indication that the good job his company is doing is being appreciated especially from critical sports stakeholders.
“This award is too dear to me because it is coming from two reputable organisations who are also major stakeholders in Nigerian sports and it will only make my company to redouble her efforts in delivering quality work as we target to be the best stadium facilities construction company in Africa”.
While dedicating the award to the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko, Egbe who is fondly called "Money Love" by friends and associates, said he is happy with what the Chairman of the Commission and the Director General, Bukola Olopade are doing to change the narrative of the country’s sports sector since their appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He said “I want to dedicate this award to the National Sports Commission for the good job they’re doing to reposition the country’s sports sector.
“It’s equally important to state that this is the first time after so many years that the right people have been saddled with the responsibility of handling the country’s sports sector and Monimichelle is ready to partner with the Commission to give Nigerians the best stadia they’ll be proud of".
Egbe, who insisted that his company does not compromise standards, expressed confidence that the men at the helm of Nigerian sports will sort out the deplorable state of the nation’s sporting facilities.
“It is embarrassing to hear that we have only one certified pitch in Uyo. Our prayer is that the new NSC leadership will change all that”, he added.
In his remarks, the Group Managing Director of GTI Assets Management and Trust Limited, Abubakar Lawal, said “NSC under Dikko is taking Nigerian sports to another level. I must acknowledge what he has done for Nigerian football and indeed sports right from when he was LMC Chairman and I have no doubt that he will replicate it in our sports in general. His partnership with Hon. Olopade is a game-changing one.”
Also speaking, the Chairman of the NSC, Mallam Shehu Dikko, while applauding the organisers for the initiative, reiterated the Commission’s disposition towards podium performances.
“We are not here to trumpet our programmes at the Commission geared towards sports development and excellence, but what you are doing here aligns with our vision of discovering, nurturing and encouraging athletes to perform optimally”, he said.
Ebi Egbe (2nd Right), other recipients & guests at the event
In his vote of thanks, Editor-in-Chief of Newstap Communications and Chairman Nigeria National League (NNL), George Aluo, pointed out that the greatest award should go to President Tinubu for picking the right people to run Nigerian sports.
The event was put together by Newstap in conjunction with the SWAN to honour five eminent Nigerians and corporate bodies that have contributed immensely to the development of sports in the country.
The awardees include the Executive Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia; GTI Assets Management and Trust Limited, a company that has turned around the nation’s premier league, the NPFL; President of Remo Stars, Kunle Soname; Chairman of Benue State Football Association, Barr Paul Eden, who is the only founder of two women clubs in Nigeria – Naija Ratels and Benue Queens, and of course the Chief Executive Officer of Africa’s leading stadiums construction outfit, Monimichelle Sports Facilities Limited, Chief Ebi Egbe.
