MAURITIUS OLYMPICS: ANXIETY FEVER GRIPS IBUSA AS FRED HENRY-AJUDUA PREPARES TO MAKE HISTORY AS THE FIRST INDIGENE TO PLAY THE NIGERIAN RUGBY

MAURITIUS OLYMPICS: ANXIETY FEVER GRIPS IBUSA AS FRED HENRY-AJUDUA PREPARES TO MAKE HISTORY AS THE FIRST INDIGENE TO PLAY THE NIGERIAN RUGBY

Story by Emeka Esogbue

In terms of human achievements, they have had nearly everything but this particular one is about an indigene playing the rugby with the Nigerian side at the Olympics.

At independence, Col Mike Okwechime was the officer that hoisted the Nigerian flag while the Union Jack was lowered. He was also the first graduate of the Engineering as a Nigerian Prof Chike Onwuachi was the first Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs. Prof Chike Onwuachi was the first Director-General of the Nigerian Institite of International Affairs. He was also the Chairman of the Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC ’77).
Major (Dr.) Albert Okonkwo was declared Administrator of Benin when the Midwest was invaded by Biafra during the Nigerian Civil War.

As usual, your PEN MASTER has been monitoring Fred Henry-Ajudua, the one they call “Nigerian Lightening” as he prepares to play the Nigerian Rugby since his declaration of allegiance to the country.

Have you seen “Big Man Fred Henry-Ajudua;” strong, beefy, awe-inspiring, and powerfully built? Heightening 6:3 from the base of the ground and 252 Ibs, Big Fred Henry-Ajudua is a defensive lineman with experience and athletic ability.

Fred Henry-Ajudua has not only decided to turn full professional, but he has also decided to play for Nigeria at the Olympic Games in Mauritius hoping to make the nation happy and the game become widely known in the country.

His father, also his Manager, Dr. Henry Ajudua who spoke to PEN MASTER over the interest of the respected athlete, revealed that the International Rugby Star, his son, finally took the decision, choosing to play for the country of his birth as opposed to other national offers due to his love and strong patriotism for Ibusa, his hometown, and the Anioma Nation in general. However, the Nigerian Lightening had in an interview, told The Will that at 5 years of age, he was proud already watching the Super Eagles and proud of team, a reason he chose the country over other invitations.

In return, Ibusa is no less proud of him. Since the news broke, congratulatory messages from Anioma people have flooded Dr. Henry and Mrs. Vivian Onyebuchi (nee Njideaka) Ajudua family.

“The Ibusa, a people of a close-knit Anioma community, love to see their sons and daughters conquer the international space and we are happy that Freddy Henry-Ajudua, our son is bringing us this honour again. Already, I have mandated my children to wait and glue themselves to the television when the game opens,” one Ibusa indigene told PEN MASTER with excitement.

The career of the former student of King’s College, Lagos according to The Will, is robust and honourable being a Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine with loads of awards that include “2023 Lifetime Achievement Winner for Rugby” in the State of Atlanta, a plaque, his father, the Manager would proudly flaunt before PEN MASTER for the latter’s appreciation.

The Atlanta Rhinos Rugby League on signing him in 2023, reported the 29-old lock/back row star who came to the USA at age 16 from Nigeria as a “dream changer.”

The business of the Ibusa people is that once an appearance is made on the pitch, Fred Henry-Ajudua will make history as the first Ibusa to play for the Nigerian side and the second Ibusa son after Kingsley Obiekwu to feature for Nigeria at the Olympics. The Anioma Nation has notably had the likes of Kingsley Obiekwu, Ndubuisi Okosieme, Austin Jay Jay Okocha, and others and Freddie Henry-Ajudua will join them when finally introduced to the pitch.

It is Freddie Freddie in every corner of the community and the fever appears to grip everyone. Suddenly, everyone in the community wants to take interest rugby and Fred Henry-Ajudua is the reason. His fanbase is growing at home with new converts ‘religiously’ won.

Ibusa will make a record again in the athletic prowess of Dr Fred Henry-Ajudua who is already in the Olympics training ground with his teammates from where he has been speaking to his fans from around the world as confirmed by his father.

“We know that rugby is a new game to a lot of us in Nigeria but rugby is fast becoming a globally accepted sports. This explains the several contests in rugby which has been highlighted in recent years. In this year’s Olympic Games, we, the Igbuzo and Anioma as a whole indigenes are privileged to have our son, Dr Freddie Henry-Ajudua represent us. Please, lets endeavor to tune in go watch the games,” Freddie’s father posted in Ibusa Development Forum, a WhatsApp umbrella body of the Ibusa community.

The greatest success of the Nigerian side according to the information from Wikipedia, is the 2013 Africa Cup where the team defeated Mauritius 63-3 in Group 1C. The Nigerian Rugby Union is, however, hoping that Dr. Fred Henry-Ajudua, the Nigerian Lightening will help the nation to make better success.