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Mark D Ball will outlive me -David Mark

Published

9 years ago

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By Yemi Itodo

The Sponsor of  the Nigeria’s biggest Basketball tournament and immediate past Senate President, Senator David Mark has reiterated his commitment  to making the Basketball tournament a continuous activity even after he would have retired from politics.
Senator Mark made this known in Otukpo at the weekend during the official opening of the 8th edition of Mark D Ball.


According to him, the tournament is non-political but specially packaged for grooming and recruiting World Class Basketball Players who could in return contribute their own quotas to the social-economic development of Nigeria.

The soft-spoken experienced Law Maker used the occasion to enumerate the achievements of the Mark D Ball tournament since inception which includes sponsorship of home based Players from his constituency to international tournaments;  facilitating the endorsements of home based players to be signed-on by international clubs; producing the U-17 national team which made Nigeria proud in Madagascar in 2015 and also qualified to represent Africa in Spain come 2016; among others.

Okpokpowulu K’Idoma also highlighted numerous economic potentialities of the tournament on Otukpo, the town which plays host to Mark D Ball every year.

While lauding the fruitful efforts put in place by the Local Organizing Committee and Officials for the success of this year’s tournament, Senator Mark promised he would not relent in his efforts at ensuring that Mark D Ball tournament and the Otukpo Golf Club become lasting legacies which will outlive him.

Earlier in her address of welcome, the Coordinator and Chairperson of the tournament, Hon. Mrs. Ada Mark Ogbole thanked the former Senate President for making sporting activities attractive and enticing for Idoma youths and for providing the enabling environment for the smooth running of ‘Mark D Ball’ tournament which has become a yearly activity for the past 8 years.

The Sport-loving woman who has used her organization, Ada Mark Foundation for Girls to groom countless Nigerian Girls to become international Basketball champions said she was happy because the rationale behind establishing the Mark D Ball tournament is justified.

“Looking back and taking stocks of how many champions we have produced at various levels, I cannot but thank God for what Mark D Ball is doing for our youths. The reason why this tournament was put in place is already justified”, she said.

While welcoming the Officials and participating teams to Texas city of Otukpo, Hon. Ada Mark also wished them a happy camping and victorious outing.

Highlights of the event include wonderful performances by the legend Bonkos Ikwue, Ice Prince, Techno, Adokiye, Baba Fryo, Danfo Driver, Victoria Kimany, Jumabee, Mandy Dolzs, an indigenous Owi Mark, among others.

Popular Nigerian Comedians who thrilled the overwhelming crowd to laughter include Klint De Drunk, MC Marcapolo, Sam and Song, Wahala, Fred Bright, Pastor Nicodemus, MC Smart and host of others.

The official opening ceremony of the 2015 edition of Mark D Ball tournament experienced a thunderous attendance with Former Ministers; Members of the National Assembly; Captains of Industry; stakeholders in Sports sector who have come to scout for players for international placing; and sons and daughters of Benue with special appearance and recognition of Queen Amina, an Idoma veteran Movies Producer from Canada .
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