The two beneficiaries of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company’s (SNEPCo) Student-Athlete scholarship at Making of Champions (MoC) Track Club, Emmanuel Ojeli and Favour Ekpekpe, were unveiled at a Press Conference held in Lagos on Tuesday, March 5th, 2019.
While speaking to members of the press, the duo appreciated the gesture from SNEPCo, which has afforded them the opportunity of focusing on their Athletics careers without having to worry about their training, competition and nutritional costs ahead of the 2019 Athletics season, as well as their tuition costs while preparing for their University Entrance Examinations.
Ojeli who won a Bronze medal in the men’s 400m for Lagos State at the 2018 National Sports Festival (NSF), thanked Shell for the support. He said, “This Shell scholarship means a lot to me. I am very happy and want to promise Shell that I will not disappoint them”.
Going by his impressive outing in 2018, Ojeli is hoping to break into Nigeria’s senior team this year.
Ekpekpe on the other hand, won a Bronze medal in the 200m at the National U-18 Championships in 2018 and looks forward to making Shell proud in 2019. He is set to open his 2019 season at the National U-20 Trials holding in Ilaro, Ogun State from March 14th to 17th.
He said, “This is a good opportunity for me and it really means a lot to me to be sponsored by Shell, so I’m very grateful to them”.
MoC Head Coach and Athens 2004 Bronze Medallist Deji Aliu believes that with Shell’s support, both athletes will make an impact in 2019.
He said, “As a coach and former athlete, I know how important it is for an athlete to get support. I don’t think any athlete can get to the peak without encouragement, but with a company like Shell stepping in to sponsor Emmanuel Ojeli and Favour Ekpekpe, I think they can do very well.”
