The visit of Bruce Ijirigho!
Categories: General
Written By: Segun Odegbami
Dr. Bruce Ijirigho was in town. Remember Bruce? He is the immediate past President of the International Athletes Association of Nigeria in America. He represented Nigeria in the 400 metres event at the 1972 Olympics in Munich and was part of Nigeria’s contingent to the aborted Montreal Olympic Games in 1976. He was one of Nigeria’s awesome quarter-milers that had Gold or Silver written all over them on the eve of the Olympics in Montreal. He went to America in the early 1970s as one of the first set of recipients of the Federal Government athletics scholarship given through the National Sports Commission.
Bruce came and spent two weeks in the country. On his first night in Ibadan where he had gone to attend a burial ceremony, robbers visited the house where he stayed with his wife. They were cleaned of every handy valuable they brought from America – money, handsets, jewelry and so on. Although traumatized by the experience his decision to return soon to Nigeria and establish a sports facility of some sort remains unwavering. Whilst he lamented the present state of Nigerian sports and the wasting opportunities, he was quick to acknowledge that to effect positive change it would take decisive action by people like him that have gone abroad and acquired both experience and knowledge to return home and pass them on to the new generation. With a doctorate degree in Physical and Health Education as part of his awesome credentials, Dr. Ijirigho is eminently qualified to champion the cause of this change. The American association now led by Harrison Salami must rise beyond rhetoric and make its members return home and physically join in the ‘struggle’ for social development and youth empowerment through sports! I could see in his eyes that he is eager to return soon!
November 29th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
I am sadden to read that Dr. Bruce Ijirigho was attacked and robbed while in Nigeria for a short visit. I had the opportunity to work very closely with Dr. Ijirigho in forming the Nigerian Sports International Foundation, based in Homestead, FL., USA. The goals include: to serve as a voice for active and former Nigerian athletes, sports administrators in Nigeria and in the Diaspora; advocate for transparency and effective management and development of all sports in Nigeria and the Diaspor; provide financial and technical assistance to empower Nigerian sportsmen and women, sports administrators and sports journalists; and to support its members in the realization of their aspirations for the greater good of Nigeria.
Indeed, Dr. Ijirigho is qualified to champion a change in sports direction in Nigeria, particularly in how we approach sports development in Nigeria. There are many Nigerian equally and eminently qualified to begin a dialogue for change. We need to join Dr. Ijirigho in this effort. The time is right. We need to first of all change the conversation about sports development in Nigeria. We can begin here at this forum. Many voices out there demand that we begin now.
December 6th, 2008 at 12:51 am
My Broda Segun,
I did not know of the existence of your mathematical 7 website until I got calls from our mutual friends Sadiq Abdulahi and Rolake Olagbegi. They both left me vioce messages expressing their shock and concern over my experience in the hands of armed robber during my visit to Nigeria in October this year. My thanks to them and others who called to show their concern. I have always loved and believed in the corporate entity called Nigeria and that love dictated the speed with which I jetisioned lucrative job offers in the USA and rushed back home in May 1981 after I was conferred with my hard earned Ph.D degree in Petroleum Geology by the University of Arizona. So, “I love my country I no go lie” and no action of some hungry and misguided young men will be enough to scare me away from Nigeria. We have a lot of work to do there with programs that will guarentee a bright future for our youths through sports. Posterity is depending on us to do our part courageously. My greatest disappointment during the visit was not the attack by robbers, it was my inability to visit your Sports Academy in Wasimi, Ogun State to address and encourage the students. My heart sank when I had to cancel the Wasimi visit at the last minute due to unforseen problems with my overseas travel itinerary. But not to worry. God’s time is the best and we will make that trip when I visit again, soon. Keep up the good works and remember that as long as the sun continues to rise in the east and set in the west, so it is a certainty that someday we will have our chance to take Nigerian sports to that well deserved height where no Minister has dared to dream or have had the courage to take us as a nation. Nigeria is yet to appoint a Minister who is passionate and has a definite plan of action to take Nigerian Sports to the desired level.
Thanks for your write up about Musa Dogon Yaro and his going home to be with his creator. How can he die without the NSC getting involved or at least sending emissaries there to console the family? That goes to show you how much Nigeria cares for her heroes of the past. May his gentle soul rest in peace.
Dr. Bruce Tajirere Ijirigho