By Milton Tella – The team representing the Nigeria High Commission London in the UK Diplomatic League Association Football Tournament, presented five League cups won in three consecutives years from 2021 – 2023 to Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola during a farewell ceremony organised in his honour on Wednesday 25 October 2023.
The team Head Coach Ugochukwu Ikebata thanked Ambassador Isola for the moral and financial support that helped to raise the morale of the team.
Ambassador Isola in his remarks thanked and praised the footballers for their winning strides and fate in the country. “You have shown your support for your country by making the country proud.
Countries of the world developed because of the high sense of patriotism. We did our part by the support we have offered you. You have also done your part by winning the cups for the Federal Republic of Nigeria. What is important is for you to sustain this legacy. When l resumed office there were issues but l was committed as sport is one of the ways to unite our country.”
Ambassador Isola introduced Dr. Alex Vines OBE, director, Africa Programme Chatham House, who was a special guest at the ceremony.
Dr. Alex Vines said, “It was a great pleasure to be part of the celebration of the success of the Nigerian diplomatic team. His Excellency, Isola has played a giant role across the diplomatic community attached to the Court of James’s. He came during Covid-19, which was a very disruptive period for us all and the High Commissioner has promoted Nigeria’s interest on very many different levels, from migration to recovering Nigerian artefacts from UK museums. He has earned himself a couple of success during his time here. With the pictures of many former High Commissioners hanging on the walls of the Conference Hall of the Mission, the picture of Ambassador Isola will always be remembered here in the UK. Most of the work we do at the Chatham House focuses on Nigeria for the simple reason that Nigeria is a giant in Africa. The partnership and relationship between the United Kingdom and Nigeria will forever be as a result of the geographical and closer cultural link.
He thanked His Excellency for his time in the UK as Ambassador and presented him with a book ‘History of Chatham House’ which contains all the famous people who have spoken at the Chatham House.
Dr Vines said, “It is sad to see Ambassador Isola go. The book is a reminder to Ambassador Isola of his time with us at the Chatham House.”
His Excellency, Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola received the trophies: Diplomatic Cup 2021,
Diplomatic League and Diplomatic Cup 2022, Diplomatic League and Diplomatic Cup 2023 from the Officials: Mr Bukar Abdulsalam, Head Information, Culture and Sports, Ugochukwu Ikebata, Head Coach, Nigeria High Commission team, London, Roland Egbedi, Assistant Coach, Walter, Assistant team manager, Pele Adeyemi, Team doctor and Godfrey Obobe, Assistant Coach.
The team also presented the High Commissioner with an award of excellence for all his achievements and his unflinching support to the team.
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