Nigerian athletics administrator Okowa Tonobok has been elected the new President of the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA Region II).
Okowa defeated his rival Vierin DeGon (9-6) in a race that had to go to second-round after each candidate got 7 votes apiece from the 15 ballots in the first round.
Oually Sara from Senegal and Togo’s Tchanile Salifuo Falilatou withdrew from the Presidential contest.
The President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) replaces Engr Ibrahim Shehu Gusau who declared his non-candidature for the position during the elective congress which was held at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra on Saturday, January 14, 2023.
Chief Tonobok Ojuru Okowa was born on the 2nd day of June 1960 into the family of the Late Chief Arthur Okorie Okowa and the Late Mrs. Victoria Okowa of Owa-Alero in lka North East Local Government Area of Delta State.
He had his Primary Education at the then Christian Missionary Society (CMS) Primary School, OwaAlero, and obtained his Primary School Leaving Certificate in 1974. He proceeded to lka Grammar School, Boji-Boji Owa for his Secondary Education and obtained the West African School Certificate (WASC) in 1979.
He worked with the Bendel State Arts Council, Benin City as an Arts and Culture Personnel briefly before attending an Advanced National Business and Technical Education Course where he obtained a Financial Management Business Certificate.
In 2007, he proceeded to the National Institute for Sports and successfully completed his Basic Certificate Football Coaching Course and General Sports Administration. He is also a holder of a Diploma in Sports Management and Administration from the Delta State College of Physical Education, Mosogar.
Being so dedicated to hard work coupled with his love and passion for sports, he was the founder and Chairman, of Appeteez Football Club in 2002.
In 2004 he became the first vice Chairman of the Delta State Football Association, and in 2006 he became the Chairman of Delta Force Football Club. In 2007 he became the Patron of Delta State (Football).
Referee Council, a position he holds to date. He is the owner of the Nigeria National League (NNL) side, Apex-Krane Football Club.
In January 2016, he was appointed the Executive Chairman of Delta State Sports Commission for a four (4) year tenure, and in 2019 for a second tenure by His Excellency, Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, the Executive Governor of Delta State.
During these periods, he, amongst other things, saw to the completion of the Stephen Okechukwu Keshi Stadium, Asaba. He maintained Delta State’s number one position in sports in Nigeria by winning all editions of the National Youth Games conducted so far in his tenure in office as well as the National Sports Festivals (Abuja 2018 and Edo 2020).
He is the current President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), an elective position where he has already exhibited his winning magic with Nigeria’s performance at the just concluded U20 World Athletes Championship in Kenya. His other positions and responsibilities are; Chairman, of the Marketing Committee of the Nigerian Olympic Committee.
Member, Nigerian House Project Committee, Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development. Member, Organising Committee, Nigerian Football Federation.
Formerly the South-South Chairman/Representative, of the Nigerian Weightlifting Federation, and Interim Committee Chairman of the Weightlifting Federation.
He is a one-time Executive Vice Chairman Local Organising Committee (LOC), Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) held in ‘Asaba 2018’. He is also a one-time Chairman of the National Sports Festival Post Covid-19 Committee, a committee that established the protocols/codes for sporting activities in post-covid Nigeria.
He is a man of great vision. A vision to always win and create positive impacts. To crown this impressive and intimidating resume of Chief Tonobok Ojuru Okowa is the fact that he is a great philanthropist and an epitome of inspiration to many both near and far.
Source: Sportsbash.com.ng
