By Sylvanus Ekpo
The Nigerian Ports Authority Managing Director, Hadiza Bala Usman yesterday commissioned the remodeled NPA Sports Club at Bode Thomas, Surulere, Lagos. Other facilities commissioned include the Lawn Tennis and Basketball Courts and Long Jump Pit.
The Managing Director noted that the facilities were in a “total state of dilapidation and dereliction” before the intervention of her Management to salvage the situation.
She said sports was a key factor in workers productivity, hence the need to give the sports complex a facelift.
“The rehabilitation and upgrading of the facility is a further testimony to our avowed belief in Corporate Society Responsibility to our host communities”, and called on users of the facility to keep the high standard in a sustainable manner.
The occasions also witnessed the flag off of this year’s Nigerian Ports Authority Sports Association (NIPOSA) games by the managing director.
In her keynote address, she said sports was stool for unifying the workforce and mobilising them for greater operational efficiency and commended her workers for their outstanding performances in internal and external competitions.
The Managing Director recalled that the NPA team won the Mariticide Cup last year after several failed attempts and urged them to keep up the tempo.
She thanked the numerous stakeholders, sponsors and partners for their support for making NIPOSA games a reality, promising to do more to strengthen the bond of friendship in the port community through sports.
Earlier in his welcome address, the General Manager, Human Resources and Chairman, Central NIPOSA, Mr. Yahaya Gana Bukar, said the games were conceptualised to promote unity among staff in the organisation and engender friendliness.
He said the current games were structured to accommodate the participation of other members of the port community, in the spirit of fellowship and camaraderie.
Mr. Bukar disclosed that two new games, Basketball and Swimming had been added alongside the traditional games like Football, Long Jump, Lawn Tennis, Chess, Badminton Scrabble and Table Tennis.
The Chairman commended the managing director for her iconic leadership.