Ehibam Griefshare Foundation lifts 19 schools with rugby balls

The Edo State Rugby Association rounded off its end of the year activities on Thursday with the presentation ceremony of rugby balls to the benefiting schools in the Edo State Schools Rugby Program at the Media Centreof the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.

The Ehibam Griefshare Foundation sponsored event was graced by the Edo State Sports Commission Chairman Godwin Dudu Orumen, his Director of Sports Donatus Arewa, the Director of Sports (Technical) Charity Igbinosa, Director of Sports (Facilities) Victor Edokpaiye, the President of the Edo State Coaches Association Aghahowa Osayomore,

The Edo State Sports Commission Union Chairman John Osamoyin, alongside teachers and pupils of the respective schools.

The rugby balls presentation ceremony is the foundation’s way of reassuring the program of its continued support and partnership in its activities going forward.

According to Ntiense Williams, the head coach of Edo State Rugby Association, the Ehibam foundation has over the last three years partnered with the Edo State Rugby Association in the Ehibam Schools Rugby Tournament.

“However, due to the disruption caused by the Covid 19 pandemic, the program couldn’t hold last year. As such, to restart the program, the Ehibam Griefshare Foundation have decided to help provide the basic Rugby Equipment (Rugby Balls) to kick start the program.”

According to the initiator of the partnership on behalf the Foundation, Pastor Modupeola Irele who was unavoidably absent, but had earlier also donated two MVP trophies to celebrate the Deputy Governor’s Birthday Rugby Tournament a day before, “It is our pleasure to present to you 28 Rugby Balls being 2 each to the 14 Schools presently involved in the Edo State Schools Rugby Program”

Said her, “As a Foundation focused on the development of youths in the sports of Rugby nationwide, we are pleased to have partnered with the Edo State Rugby Association having twice now sponsored the Ehibam Schools Rugby Tournament in Edo State with participations from both male & female students”

“We remain keen in our desire to work closely with the Rugby Association and by extension the Edo State Sports Commission in the development of Rugby as a sports for the social and physical promotion of the welfare of students in Edo State”

She concluded, “To this end we look forward to the Ehibam Schools Rugby Invitational Tournament in 2022”.

In appreciation, she sincerely expressed her gratitude to the workaholic Head Coach of the Edo State Rugby Association, Mr Ntiense Williams popularly known as “Mr Rugby” in Nigeria who has been so fantastic, helping and guiding us through the sports of Rugby which is fast growing in the country. The Foundation is therefore proud to be associated with this project in memory of our son Ehibam.

In his address to the Schools Teachers, Pupils and the Rugby Coaches present, the Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission Godwin Dudu Orumen congratulated the benefiting School. He expressed great gratitude to the Ehibam Griefshare Foundation for keeping faith and partnering with the Edo State Rugby Association in the Edo State Schools Rugby Program with the provision of Rugby Balls and the promise of reviving the Ehibam Schools Rugby Tournament come 2022.

He concluded with a word of advice to the Schools to use this opportunity to fully embrace this new sports and make their School and Edo State proud.

Surprisingly, two Schools who just heard of the program in the media promptly contacted the Head Coach Mr Williams requesting to be a part of the program and they were duly accommodated.

Names of the benefiting Schools are as follows :- Edo College (Senior), Edo Collage (Junior), Ihogbe Collage, Iyeokogba Secondary School Junior, Asoro Grammer School (Senior), Asoro Grammer School (Junior), Idia College (Senior), Idia Collage (Junior), Imaguero Collage, Ogbe High School (Senior), Ogbe High School (Junior), Emotan Collage (Junior), Emotan Collage (Senior), Ohuoba Primary School, Evbuotubu Primary School, Edokpolor Collage, Correctional Staff School Junior, Correctional Staff School

and Scholars Imperial Educational Center

All together, 19 Schools benefited from the Ehibam Griefshare Schools Rugby Balls Donations, as follows 17 Secondary Schools (12 Boys and 13 Girls) and two Primary Schools (two Boys and two Girls) teams respectively.