Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has pledged his administration’s preparedness to collaborate with the Aba Sports Club to promote school sports especially in the area of swimming, lawn tennis and other sports activities in the State.
Dr. Ikpeazu, who made the pledge at the Investiture of Chief Jerry Kalu as the 65th President of the Aba Sports Club (1926), held at the Main Hall of the Club in Aba, observed that the Aba Sports Club has a rich history with the finest and most successful individuals in Aba as its membership.
He assured that his administration would partner with the club which he said has sustained a legacy of excellence for close to a century, so as to expose our school children to the sports facilities, noting that the club boasts of the only Olympic sized swimming pool in the entire State.
According to the Governor, the best products from the Abia State School Sports Festival which kicked off today would be brought to the Club to be taught the rudiments of certain sporting activities since the club maintains the best facilities in different areas.
He congratulated Chief Jerry Kalu, whom he described as his personal friend, confidante and ally, assuring him of his total support to the club during his presidency.
Governor Ikpeazu was later inducted as the Grand Patron of the Aba Sports Club (1926).
The event featured the formal investiture of the 65th President, Chief Jerry Kalu (Oshimiri), a well known and successful businessman in Aba, and the Chairman of Transmedia Group of Companies.
Founded in 1921 as the Aba European Club by British residents in Aba. It was formally incorporated as a legal entity on 12th March 1926 and the first African to be admitted as a member of the Club was the Late Sir Louis Mbanefo. Dr. Femi Pearse who was in charge of the Aba General Hospital was the second African to be admitted as a member. The oldest surviving member of the club is Sir Onyeso Nwachukwu who is in his 90s. He was a Member and Chief Whip of the Eastern House of Assembly and it was he that moved the motion for the change of the name of the club from the Aba European Club to Aba Club in 1962 following the attainment of independence by Nigeria.
The first African President of the Club, Mr. Raleke Nwosu was elected in 1970.
The event which was chaired by Aba based business mogul, Chief Leo Ike Okoye, attracted many dignitaries such as the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Hon. Ossy Prestige, member, representing Aba North/Aba South Federal Constituency, in the House of Representatives, former Chief of Army Staff, General Azubuike Ihejirika, (Rtd), Members of the Abia State House of Assembly, Members of the State Executive Council, former Deputy Governor Eric Acho Nwakanma and his wife, former House of Assembly member and former Governorship candidate, Dame Blessing Nwagba, PhD, top businessman, Dr. ABC Orjiakor, Chancellors of two leading private universities in the State, Bro. Emma Okorie of Rhema University Aba and Prof Gregory Ibe of the Gregory University, Uturu, Chairman of the State Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Sir J N Nwabeke, captains of industry, among others.
