FESTUS PORBENI: I want to popularize kayaking in Nigeria

• Published date: 08 January 2023
• Publication title: Nigeria - The Nation

ALTHOUGH Kayak is a lesser sport in Nigeria, its growing popularity and its inclusion in the last 21st National Sports Festival which held in Delta state, President, Kayak, Canoe and Sailing Federation, Rear Admiral Festus Porbeni (rtd), believes Kayaking is rowing in the right direction.

He said Nigeria has the potentials to win multiple medals at the Olympics, if adequately funded, and urged the youths to seize the opportunity provided by kayak federation to gain international fame.

Porbeni said with adequate funding, the Kayak sport will grow in the country, stressing that with support from the International Kayak Federation and corporate sponsorships, the sport is rowing in the right direction.

He said contrary to widespread views, kayaking is not a sport for riverine communities only,? but for any state with a body of water and urged subnational governments to invest in the sport.

According to him, the kayak federation have held successful national championships in Sokoto, Kaduna and Abuja.

He praised former Cross River Governor, Liyel Imoke, for hosting the first kayaking competition in Nigeria and urged other states governors and corporate bodies to invest in kayaking by adopting kayakers and nurturing them to stardom.

'I came into the federation when there was absolutely no hope. Not much was known about the sports. We even had no canoes and kayaks to row. We were rowing theoretically. And from that theoretical sessions, we attended competitions. In Tunisia, we came last all through. Typical of me, I said no. I don't like being last and we must make sure things change. Meanwhile, the International kayak federation had donated to us eleven boats which were lying in the Lagos port for eleven years uncollected. Sadly, we were rowing theoretically when we had boats idling away at the ports. The international body will not give you more support except we make use of the ones donated earlier. So my mission was to make sure we...