Rowing and Canoeing is a type of sports that involves propelling a boat on the water using oars. It is a kind of sport that can serve both as a recreation, fun and competition. In Nigeria, Rowing & Canoeing can be predominantly seen in riverine areas, though not as a sport, but it is common among some of Nigeria’s festivals in Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Lagos, Ondo States etc for recreational purposes.
In terms of sports, Nigeria is not famous for rowing. However, the federation is striving hard to make the sport viral as some rowers, such as Chierika Ukogu and Akinyemi, have represented Nigeria in international rowing tournaments.
Rear Admiral Festus Porbeni needs little or no introduction. Suffice it to mention the fact that apart from being a Retired Rear Admiral, a former Minister and an Ambassador, he is presently the President of the Rowing, Canoeing, and Sailing Federation in Nigeria.
The retired senior Navy General is not happy at the way Sports was run in the past through the Ministry of Sports where the Ministers were appointed on political bases instead of as a professional. He lamented his desire to promote his Federation which has over 40 Gold Medals in the Olympics and Nigeria is ranked 8th in the world, but it is treated with levity in Nigeria.
Speaking at the finals of the Rowing, and Canoeing competition at the first Niger Delta Sports Festival held at the beautiful and graceful Marina Waterfront (Ibom Hotels) where he launched the newest IBOM Rowing, Canoeing & Sailing Club for AKWA IBOM STATE as the Special Guest, the President of the Federation in Nigeria who is an Elder Statesman expressed displeasure at the fact that his Sport which Nigeria is performing so well in on the Continental and world stage is being treated with disdain in the country as it is not listed to feature at the next National Sports Festival coming up next month in Ogun State. ”
All Olympic scoring sports should be automatically included in our Nigerian Olympics which is the Bi-annual National Sports Festival,”he said
He further called on the newly appointed leadership of the National Sports Commission led by Malam Shehu Dikko and the Director General Chief Bukola Olopade to address this unfortunate scenario in our country. We have been struggling at the Olympics with our king of sports, football and many other sports with no medals at the last edition, whereas we can easily give other sports like the so-called lesser sports like Canoeing, Rowing and Sailing that has over 40 gold medals and Nigeria is currently ranked 8th in the world and Africa number one through the Federation’s Technical Director Mr Ebenezer Ayomide Bello.
Sir Porbeni got involved in the water sports when the Federation was initially concessioned to the Navy and he took charge with h
is interest in water Sports. He has since 2008 helped the Sport to be recognized and put Nigeria’s name on the world stage within 18 years of his involvement.
Said Festus, “Initially we got boats from abroad, and got expects from Brazil to come and help mark the lanes for us, but I’m proud to inform you that we are now constructing our own boats which matches international standards and our own technical personnel have been through training and are now certified to mark the lanes for the races. This event is a typical example as all the equipments here for this competition are locally produced and the marking of the lanes was done by our own lads who are now qualified technical personnel.
Sir Porbeni was beaming with smiles and nostalgia when he showed off their pride and star girl Ayomide Bello who was discovered in one of their championship in Lekki Beech and is now one of the world beaters in the sport and is representing Nigeria so well as a National and African champion.
Ayomide was born in a canoe, and now a Nigerian rowing star. Her mother actually gave birth to her inside a canoe some 20 years ago. Ayomide Bello grew up to become the first female canoeist from Nigeria to qualify for the Olympics.
Beauty Otuedo competing alongside Ayomide Bello, the Nigerian duo took just 2.24.45 seconds to seal top spot in the women’s C2 500m category on home water at Jabi Lake. They also secured an Olympic quota for Paris 2024.
The former Nigeria Ambassador to Romania and Equatorial Guinea is happy with the progress made so far by the Federation, but is not resting on his oars because there is much more to be done to push the sport to the common Nigerians with the aim of leading them at a very tender age to become well respected individuals in the society and put food on the table for their family through sports.
Unlike most athletes who discover their niche either by introduction or by happenstance, canoeing was a part of Bello’s world from the day she was born.
“My parents were doing it [canoeing] to catch fish before they gave birth to me,” the Nigerian canoeist begins. “I was born in a canoe, and I started paddling when I was young. So, when I got to the age of eight or nine, I started following them to catch fish, paddle the boat for them, set the net.”
Porbeni, a former Nigerian Ambassador to Romania and Equatorial Guinea, expressed happiness with the progress made so far by the Federation. However, the NRCSF boss vowed that the Federation would not rest on its oars until the sport reaches common Nigerians, adding that all hands must be on deck in order for the Federation to help young Nigerians become well respected individuals in the society and to cater for their families through sports. Porbeni added that he would want to be remembered for fully establishing water sports in Nigeria and winning an Olympic medal for Nigeria in the near future.
At 21, the young Porbeni ran away from home and boarded a boat to Lagos from Warri to join the Nigerian Defence Academy, having already sat for the examination before the Nigerian Civil War in 1967. It was a big gamble that paid off and saw him rising to the top echelon of Nigerian Navy. Among others, Porbeni commanded Nigeria’s biggest warship, NNS Aradu in the 1990s, and became the only Nigerian military man in service to be appointed an Ambassador and served the country as a Minister of Transport. A sports lover, especially boating, Nigeria’s stake in boating globally has increased because of his deft management.
A total number of six athletes from NRCSF represented the country at the World Rowing Championship from 20th September to 2nd October 2017 in the United States, with more other rowers trained to perform in other upcoming championships. The Nigeria Rowing Federation recorded an excellent history as two rowers who participated in the Africa Rowing Championship in Tunisia were ranked in the top 10 on the continent.
Team Nigeria emerged as the overall winner of the maiden African Admiral FBI Porbeni Canoe Race championships at the Jabi Boat Club in Abuja, Nigeria in 2023. The championships, which also served as an Olympics pre-qualifier event, began on Thursday and ended on Sunday. No fewer than 100 athletes from five African countries including, Ghana, Senegal, Sao Tome and Principe, Togo and hosts Nigeria took part in the four-day event.
Team Nigeria amassed a total of 21 medals, including 14 gold, 6 silver and 1 bronze to emerge as the overall winners of the event. Sao Tome and Principe, with a total of 14 medals, including 1 gold, 6 silver and 7 bronze finished in second position while Senegal with a total of 12 medals, including 1 gold, 3 silver and 8 bronze settled for the third position. The various race events competed for include: 500m KL3 women, 200m KL3 men, 1,000m K1 men, 1,000m K1 women, 1,000 C1 men, 1,000 C1 women, 5,000m K2 men and 200m K1 women. Others were; 500m C2 men, 200m C1 women, 500m KL2 men, 200m KL2 men, 200m C1 men, 200m K1 men, 500m C1 women and 500m K1 women.
The federation under the visionary leadership of Rear Admiral Porbeni has not only reorganize water sports in the country but also placed Nigeria firmly on the global map. With consistent investment in grassroots development, talent discovery, and international participation, the federation is charting a bold course toward excellence. As the waves of progress continue to rise, there has never been a better time for stakeholders, sponsors, and enthusiasts to rally behind this transformative movement and support the federation’s quest to make Nigeria a powerhouse in water sports.
In the 1st Confederation of Africa Canoe Sprint & Para Canoe Qualifiers for the 2024 Paris Olympics, Nigeria finished in second place in the overall medal table, securing three automatic tickets to the Olympics.
“Canoe/Kayak at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games”. Paris 2024. NBC Olympics. 17 August 2022
“2019 African Games fallout: Nigeria’s bumpy ride to ‘glory’ in Rabat”. The Nation. 13 September 2019.
“Never say never: Otuedo and Powei’s powerful message to girls in Nigeria”.
Posted by Ntiese William
