PERSONALITY OF THE MONTH
August
Dr. Walter Imoedemhe
It is with great pleasure that we present our Hockey Personality for the Month of August to you, in person of Dr. Walter Imoedemhe. He is an administrator, sportsman and a lecturer in law. Born in Auchi, native of Fugar, Etsako Central LGA, Edo State, enthusiastic for the game of hockey, a model of sportsmanship, Walter is an accomplished sportsman, an excellent administrator and a mentor.
Walter began his sports career in the late 1980s to 1990s. From being a programmed hockey athlete at the Bendel State Sports Council (BSSC) while simultaneously undergoing his undergraduate study in Law in 1988, he rose to various positions such as Personnel Officer, Administrative Officer and Public Relations Officer at the Council., Walter also rose to the position of Deputy Registrar at the University of Benin in 2009 and was appointed Pioneer Registrar, PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Port Harcourt in 2017. He is currently a Law Lecturer at the Department of Public Law Faculty of Law University of Benin. Despite his involvement in university administration, Walter’s passion for sports is demonstrated in his continued participation in hockey events within and outside Nigeria, both as a player, technical officer and tournament director.
Walter’s early years at Our Lady of Fatima Secondary School, Auchi, ‘home ground’ for hockey won him his first gold medal with the then Bendel State Hockey Team to Oluyole ’79 National Sports Festival, Ibadan. He had a performance-based employment in BSSC in 1986 as programmed athlete with a university sports scholarship from the state government in 1988. Walter combined his entire Law training from 1988 to 1992 while he actively represented Bendel/Edo States, the University of Benin and Nigeria at State, National and International hockey tournaments including National Sports Festivals (NSF), NUGA Games, Hockey Open Championships, Olympic Qualifiers and the All-Africa Games, winning several medals.
As hockey administrator, Walter remained technically relevant since 2004, serving in several committees and official roles in the Edo State Sports Council (ESSC), University of Benin (UNIBEN), Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC), Nigerian Hockey Federation (NHF), African Hockey Federation (AfHf) and World Hockey Federation (FIH). He holds the record of first Nigerian technical officer to be appointment Tournament Director by the FIH. Walter is the initiator and Executive Director, Nigerian Hockey Masters, 2018 to date.
Walter has particularly played significant roles in ESSC and UNIBEN sports development programs, serving in different capacities; Coordinator ESHA (2014), Chairman, ESSC Technical Monitoring Committee to EDO 2002, KADA 2009, GARDEN CITY 2011 and EKO 2012, Chairman ESHA and Secretary, Committee of Edo State Chairmen of Sporting Associations (2016), UNIBEN Sports Committees and NUGA Committees. Walter is involved in mentorship and sponsorship of players and teams, and training of hockey technical officers and coaches in ESSC, UNIBEN and across the South/South States.
Walter has been part of several hockey projects and club activities in Nigeria; Bendel Flickers Hockey Club, Benin. Delta Flickers Hockey Club, Asaba, Union Bank Hockey Club, Lagos. Edo Hockey Masters, Benin. UNIBEN Hockey Players Club and Nigeria Hockey Masters.
Walter is married to Dr Ovo Imoedemhe, and they are blessed with three children.
We congratulate Dr. Walter Imoedemhe for being our Hockey Personality for the Month of August 2023.
Watch Out on this space next month for another high-profile personality.