Aruna Quadri Leads in Olympic Icon Electoral Process

.... As Nigeria Olympic Fund’s voting details emerge

As part of the new private initiatives to make a difference in the funding of sports in the country, the joint programme of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) and the Nigeria Sports Development Fund Inc (NSDFI) in setting up the Nigeria Olympic Fund has yielded some great surprises.

In all, 10,000 Nigerians were sent e-mail including 250 sports journalists, to choose from a list of 25 shortlisted Nigerian Olympians. At the close of voting, we eventually got 26,189 people who voted!

Aruna Quadri, the table tennis 2016 star, blazed the trail! He led the voting scheme. He got 33,431 votes to be the topmost icon! Only Kanu Nwankwo and Mary Onyali got 31,009 and 30,975 votes next.

Others that Nigerians massively voted to be on the list of the nation’s 10 icons to be used for the project are late Sunday Bada (28,903), Chioma Ajunwa (28,201), Chika Chukwumerije (26,550), Innocent Egbunike (26,004), Blessing Okagbare (25,988), Ruth Ogbeifo-Balofin (24,977), Funke Oshonaike (24,882). The least voted of the 25 got 11,904 votes.

Explaining the rationale, the Chief Executive Officer of the project, Olajide Fashikun said, “we are not only overwhelmed by the response. Almost 400% of the voters may have heard and decided to vote. This show of confidence is outstanding. We thank Nigerians.”

The former Zamalek SC star added, “16 million Nigerians will be expected to identify with this project. Upon signing-up, you will choose your icon from these 10 stars. You will belong for the next four years to that icon’s brand. It will cost N100.00 to belong to his or her brand. We have bragging rights activities coming up later.”

“When athletes start to emerge, they will only compete in our championships from these 10 brands’ names. This community-based processes will bring up 1million kids in five team sports (handball, volleyball, baseball, hockey and basketball) while five sports (athletics, weightlifting, wrestling, table tennis and tennis) will make up the numbers.

“From 2017, there will be youth leagues where these kids will compete at state, zonal and national levels. A new generation of stars will be born, professionally supported and managed to stardom. Our nation will never be the same,’ he said.