SPECIAL Assistant on Youth and Sports to Rivers State governor, Hon Norisia Pepple has welcomed his principal’s gesture of bestowing on the award-winning Super Eagles goalkeeper, Stanley Bobo Nwabali by Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, governor of Rivers State.
Describing the governor’s gesture as “a befitting honour to a worthy youth ambassador of the state”, Hon Pepple stressed that the gesture would inspire other youths to step up their effort at making meaningful contributions to society.
Governor Fubara had on Friday played host to the visiting Super Eagles goalkeeper and his team, at Government House in Port Harcourt. During the event, Sir Fubara extolled the skilful performance of the Rivers-born goalkeeper during the just concluded 2023 AFCON tournament and as a result, decorated him with the second highest state honour of Distinguished Service Star of Rivers State (DSSRS) and a cash gift of Twenty Million Naira (N20,000,000.00) for making his state and country proud.
Speaking at the sidelines of the occasion, the SA on Youth and Sports noted with excitement the zeal with which the governor has promoted youth and sports development in the state since the inception of his administration and thanked him for recognising the efforts of Chief Nwabali, who he said showcased the exceptional soccer potentials embedded in Rivers youths.
Speaking further, he congratulated the 27-year-old Nwabali for his selfless contributions towards the silver medal win for Nigeria and described his DSSRS conferment as “a befitting honour to an illustrious Rivers’ son and worthy youth ambassador of the state.”
He hoped that other young Rivers people would be inspired for greater accomplishments by the success story of Chief Stanley Nwabali, who hails from Egbema in Rivers State and contribute positively towards restoring the misconstrued image of the state.
“Nwabali’s story displays the power of unblinking focus, determination and resilience. I hope that our teeming population of Rivers youth will learn from his success story and strive to do better,” he remarked.
The governor’s aide also praised the governor for his benevolence and immense support of an additional cash donation of N20 million to the national team, for being the runner-up in the AFCON 23 football competition.
Eighteen-Eleven Media