First position
By Chinwe Nwacha, Onitsha
It was commendation galore at Chuba Ikpeazu Stadium, Onitsha, Anambra State, as Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders' Association, ASMATA, ended her maiden two months ASMATA Women Sports Competition Sponsored solely by the ASMATA President General, PG, Hon. Humphrey Anuna.
In his address prior to the final competition that witnessed match pass and award of prizes to winners, the ASMATA PG disclosed that the competition is aimed at involving women in sporting activities for healthy body in line with Governor Chukwuma Soludo's resolve to uplift sporting activities in the state.
His words, "What we are doing today is what we learnt from our amiable governor, His Excellency, Chukwuma Soludo, who is God-sent to curtail the sufferings of his people and we don't need an Angel to tell us that he has changed the face of the state through his rapid infrastructural development of the state.
"We, traders even benefit his achievements more than any other person because we make use of the roads now scattered all over the state. He doesn't need campaign to win the coming gubernatorial election because the achievements are there to speak for him. Even other political parties have joined in campaign for Soludo's second tenure bid because they know he is working.
"I commend the Special Adviser to the Governor on Trade and Commerce, Hon. Evarist Uba, who represented Governor Soludo, who is the engine room of our achievements as market leaders because he has been able to pilot the affairs of the traders to the satisfaction of all and sundry" he affirmed.
2nd position
According to him, "the first of such sporting activities was held in 2023 when a woman from Onitsha Main market took first position in Ncho game. That was when we did Traders' competition, so the difference is that in this very one, Traders' leadership added match pass," he disclosed.
Earlier in his speech, Hon. Uba described the participation of women in sporting activities as a welcome development stating that it helps to keep fit
"All works and no play makes jack a dull boy, so it is fantastic organizing this ASMATA Women Sports competition, you can see smiles in everybody's face, people are happy.
"There is peace and security in Anambra, the roads are there, including other infrastructures so numerous to mention and these are the handiwork of our able governor.
"I thank the ASMATA PG and other market leaders for the increase in market IGR and I want to advise them to sustain the tempo, the ASMATA PG has been very wonderful in piloting the affairs of the traders, no wonder they call him, "Ogwu Ndi Ahia", he stated.
3rd position
In his own speech, the Onitsha Main market chairman, Hon. Innocent Ezeoha (a.k.a.Ezennia), recalled that prior to their coming in to take over the leadership of the markets, the IGR to government was nothing to write home about.
"I then gingered the government through my effort and idea and immediately the IGR increased and has continued to increase to the extent that I recorded about #100 million in 2023 and in 2024 I beat my chest to say it is #305 million for Onitsha main market, a feat that nobody could believe is possible," he stated.
He commended Governor Soludo for giving him the opportunity to serve and bring out his wealth of experience in trading adding that the governor is fixing the roads and other infrastructures and as such needs the support of the traders to move forward.
In his own contribution, the Onitsha International Electronics market chairman, Hon. Dona Obi, commended the ASMATA PG and the women for a successful competition adding that it helps to keep healthy.
He called for constant women sporting activities stating that days were gone when women were relegated to the background.
On the November 8th gubernatorial election Obi reiterated that Governor Soludo has no rival as his achievements are there to speak for him.
A guru in business who is currently installing CCTV cameras in all markets in the state, Chigozie Bob Francis Nzekwesi, described the competition as a welcome development and commended both ASMATA PG and Uba for taken the traders to the next level.
Contributing, a patron of ASMATA and PG of Ogidi International Building Materials market, Hon. Jude Nwankwo, stressed the need for constant hosting of women traders' tournament as it helps to keep fit.
"I really appreciate things like this, it makes people to relax, I suggest it is done regularly. I thank the ASMATA PG, SPAD and market leaders for organizing this and I thank Governor Soludo for giving the opportunity for such competition.
On the coming gubernatorial election he said the Governor deserved a second tenure having achieved a lot in just three years .
Oseokwodu market led by Ikechukwu Umennadozie won first position, 2nd position went to Shoe manufacturers and general goods dealers market, Nkwelle Ezunaka while Onitsha main market clinched 3rd position.
Reacting to clinching the first position, Umennadozie said he was not surprised that Oseokwodu market won it adding that they were much prepared for the competition.
"We planned seriously for it, we wore new shoes, clothes, everything that has to do with the competition and we had rehearsal prior to coming to compete,
"I commend ASMATA PG, SPAD and all those that made this competition to be successful and also our able governor, his second tenure bid is assured because he has achieved a lot."
Also the chairman of Sokoto Road/New market Road Street market, Chief Emeka Mbachi, expressed satisfaction with the large turn up of women participants and pleaded that such competition should continue saying it is means of keeping healthy body.
According to him, "The women surprised us, we can fish out talented ones that can be trained hard to represent the state at the national level. This competition is also a unifier that brings traders together as one family".
He paid glowing tribute to the ASMATA PG stating that since he assumed office peace is restored and traders' IGR increased more than it was before he came in.
Expressing satisfaction with the competition, the chairman, Board of Trustees, (BoT), Association of Music and Film Producers and Marketers of Nigeria, (AMUFPMAN), Chief Uzoma Ubaoha, lauded the ASMATA PG and SPAD for the women competition adding that it will stop them from having High Blood Pressure.
"This is very interesting and women can do what the men do, they can go for national competition through this tournament because it is an opportunity to fish out talents and train them hard.
Governor Soludo is my friend and a lover of sports. You can see how he has been able to uplift sporting activities. Before now traders never thought of having sports in their markets because they were interested in how to make profit without having healthy body.
Ubaoha who is the CEO of Puz Records Entertainment, said, "So I commend all who in one way or the other contributed to the success of the competition and I hope it will be a yearly event," he queried.
