Chairman of the Delta State Athletics Association, Sir Itiako Ikpokpo, has extended warm congratulations to Gabriel Okon, who emerged as the South-South Zonal representative on the board of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) following Monday’s election held in Benin City.

In a statement issued in Asaba, Sir Ikpokpo described the outcome of the zonal election as a “family affair” and pledged his support for Okon, whom he acknowledged as a respected figure in Nigerian athletics.

“Okon surely has a name and deserves his place in the athletics world,” Ikpokpo said.
“I fully concede defeat to Gabriel Okon, who is a brother and friend. I encourage him to strive for effective and target-driven representation of our zone on the AFN board.”

A Call for Unity and Purpose

Sir Ikpokpo emphasized that the athletics sector remains a crucial part of Nigeria’s sporting landscape, and noted that recent performances highlight the need for renewed commitment and reform.

“Athletics is not just big, but a critical subsector of our sports. Our fortunes in recent times indicate that there is a lot of work to do,” he said.
“This requires a high level of commitment and selflessness, which can only be achieved by not continuously pandering to the cleavages that have held the sport down, but by opening up the athletics ecosystem for greater participation and contributions from passionate stakeholders.”

Looking Ahead to the National Election

Looking forward to the AFN’s main board election scheduled for June 12, Ikpokpo expressed hope that the larger Nigerian athletics family will approach the process with unity and a renewed sense of purpose.

“It is my hope that this sense of purpose will inform the mind of the Nigeria Athletics family as we go into the main election,” he concluded.