Segun Ozique

  Amidst the jolly rallying of roaring machines, Some love birds came to light off the gasoline. Some did in eyes and smiles in a platonic dance, While others had hearts hooked in rhythmic trance. I as arbiter established two at the racing scene, Smiles were all it took to set their hearts agleam. Their souls were meshed with their spirits set free, It was the bond of two strangers in Ilara rallied by destiny.   As the two hobnobbed, time passed at a blurred speed, As they explored motor power and body passion with glee. It was a joy to watch the thrills and spills of the racing tracks, And the exhilaration of off-track hearts racing in soaring packs.   Now I am thinking as the rally has come to a close, What has become of the Work and play love broth? Would they fade off as has the exhaust smokes in the air, Leaving the hearts yearning for the next when and where?   For, though Work and Play as Scheduled reached its end, The Ilara memories were one connived as a com...

  The 2023 Ondo Motor Rally was an exciting event that brought together a diverse group of participants from across the country. However, it is important to evaluate the health and safety measures put in place to ensure that the event was conducted safely and healthily. The following is a review of the health and safety measures put in place during the 2023 Ondo Motor Rally: Medical Services: The medical services provided at the event were satisfactory. The medical team comprising a doctor, nurses, and a health technician, were well-trained and adequately equipped to handle any medical emergencies that could have arisen during the event.  There was also a fully equipped ambulance on stand-by with referral hospitals and clinics with medical personnel notified to be on 12 hours stand-by for any emergencies Recommendations: Despite the measures put in place, there is always room for improvement. The following are recommendations that could be implemented to ensure the safet...

  Call it a wake-up call; a prompt to renew interest. It was made evident that Work and Play promotions again ruffled some feathers on the 8th of April, waking up anyone in Ondo State drifting to slumber by drawing attention to the state’s natural picturesque wealth, untapped tourism opportunities, and the exciting world of Motorsports. The Work and Play promotion was not just aimed at promoting both labour and leisure activities in the state. It was a goal-driven effort to help grow the state with the corporate support of major sponsors such as Toyota, SMT, Smoking Hills, etc., and of course, such efforts will not be complete without the Motorsport's drivers, bikers, riders, supportive clubs around the country, and speed enthusiasts. The promotion was geared among other positive intentions, towards attracting visitors to the state, boosting the local economy through investments, engaging the youths in gainful employment, and encouraging more people to take Motorsports as a hobby...

As expected, the recently concluded 2023 Ondo Motor Rally is done and dusted. The rally was a delightful and fulfilling feat, with participants and spectators enjoying a thrilling display of skill, agility, and speed. It was a holiday atmosphere with music, dancing, food and drinks by thousands of people from around the country and abroad who flocked to the city of Ilara-Mokin, filling up all the hotels with large chunk spill over to the hotels in Akure. While many key players and sponsors were involved in the event, Airtel was one company that stood out head and shoulder tall in their presence, significantly contributing to the festival’s pageantry, parade, and fanfare. Airtel truly helped make the 2023 Ondo Motor Rally run smoothly and efficiently by providing the essential telecom services that included internet connectivity, on-the-ground customer services, and aiding mobile communication, allowing participants and spectators alike to stay connected throughout the event. Telecommun...

  As a professional and continuous participant in the field of health occasion management and planning, I have witnessed first-hand the importance of rally crowd control and protection. So, with the 2023 6 th edition of the Ondo Motorsports Festival fast approaching, only 11 days to go! it is comforting to note, Work & Play has made necessary arrangements to ensure that all obligatory measures have been made to keep both participants and spectators safe at the rally. In this comprehensive guide, I will discuss the role of crowd control and protection teams, preparation for crowd control and protection, safety equipment and tools, regulations and guidelines, effective communication, best practices, and rally crowd control and protection drills. The Ondo Motorsports Festival is a high-energy and adrenaline-pumping event that brings together racing enthusiasts from all over the world. This year's event promises to be even more exciting than the previous ones, with more participan...

  As a motor rally car racer, you should know first-hand how demanding and physically challenging the sport can be. The thrill of the race, the adrenaline rush, and the intense competition make it one of the most exciting, exhausting and rewarding sports out there. So, to be a successful racer and stay competitive, you must be in suitable physical and mental condition. I will share with you, in this ultimate guide, everything you need to know about staying healthy and fit for rally racing, preparatory to the 2023 6th Ondo Motorsports festival, Ilara-Mokin. The racing competition will be you, the driver competing against others, but you all are running against the clock on closed-off roads or private tracks, and from point A to point B, navigating through various terrains and obstacles; the demand will be for a high level of skill, concentration, precision, and endurance. It is a physically and mentally demanding Sport that requires you, the athlete to be in top physical condition t...

    One of my followers reacting to my article on social media recently wrote, “as a Motorsport enthusiast, I have always been fascinated by the thrill of high-speed racing events. Please, when will the event take place in Lagos?” Stay tuned, I will inform you, was my simple stated response. So, yeah, the pioneering works of Work and Play (W & P) Promotions on race rallying in Nigeria are generating lots of interest, and attracting participants and spectators from all over the world. This article is a recap; an overview of what to expect at the 6th Ondo Auto Rally in 2023. The Ondo festival like any other auto rally is a Motorsport event that involves racing on privately constructed tracks as W & P has done in Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State, off-road trails, or a combination of both. It tests the driver's skills, the vehicle's performance, and the ability to navigate challenging terrain and obstacles. The goal of the...

  People! Race fans, motor buffs, holiday get-away seekers, W&P workgroups and players, are you all packed with everything that is needed for the 8 th , April 2023 Ondo Motor rally?!!! As with Work & Play Promotions' regular race rallies, everyone, from corporate organisations to individuals; VIP or not, is bound to enjoy a day out on and off the tracks with expertly prepared activities. Outside the performance of watching a fine mix of handling powerful top-speed motors and bikes with deftness, which is guaranteed to last long in the memory of all who experience it, ‘do know, and I guarantee this,’ says the event organising CEO, Ade Ojuoko, ‘that regardless of who you are, whether you are a Motorsports novice, busy executive looking for a get-away fun, simply a speed buff or experienced racer the 6 th Ondo race rally is tailored to your fun-day, happiness, amusement, relaxation and enjoyment.’ Also guaranteed to feature, I gathered from speaking with the CEO, will include...

  Hello. Welcome to 2023! As we move farther into the new year, let’s look back at some Life changing challenges and occurrences of significance in our lives and where we need to be taking some corrective measures: Nine years separated footballer Marc-Vivienne Foe's death from a heart attack on a pitch in Lyon to that of Fabrice Muamba's near-fatal collapse at Tottenham, and another nine years passed before the famous footballer, Christian Eriksen was brought back to life in the summer of 2020!! These are stories of famous persons whose quick intervention of basic life support skills (BLS) saved them. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of needless deaths we witness in Nigeria daily the freshest of which is that of the 12 years old girl of Chrisland High School we heard died of preventable asphyxiation in Lagos, Nigeria. It is not a signed death warrant when people collapse if you know what immediate intervention to apply to revive them or keep them from a maximum of three m...

  Mz Kiss 💋 the beautiful, graceful, intelligent and talented is also as down-to-earth humble and grounded as can be despite her celebrity and icon status.   I noted there were lots of giggling and heads turning to a particular corner of the WP (Work & Play) bar and restaurant, 44, Community Road, Off Allen, where Mz Kiss and her, equally chic fair lady guest sat with the Multi COO of a group of companies, and a restaurateur, Ade Ojuoko, sat. The sexy sporty singer showed she takes some beating as a fashionista even as simply dressed in multi-coloured knickers, a detrimental top and without makeup as she appeared; commanding, elegant and splendid a petite-pretty presence. The rap prima donna., Mz Kizz says she will be live in Ondo State, to grace the 6th, Ondo Motorsports Rally, coming up on the 8th of April, 2023, when we spoke. So, everyone looking for a wonderful day out with a difference from the hectic city living, the Ilara-Mokin festival of speed, Nigeria’s bigges...

  If I can do it and at present have people in almost four states actively participating in competitions across states getting into the sports by merely watching motor racing on television, then anyone can. All it takes is hard work, dedication, and managing all the hustles in life with a dedication to the profession, says Agboola, Ekundayo, popularly known as the Rider. I asked him to explain how he got into Motorsports. I never really gave the sport of motor racing a thought. I have always enjoyed driving. I can drive all day without tiring. When I watched sports on television, I told my friends that we can not only do what was going on, on television but can do it better. Thereafter, some of my friends came together and decided to give it a try. We saved up money all month, eventually bought bikes, and started practising on our own, and have never looked back since. You know you can be someone who loves bikes or cars just by being able to drive them but to love speed, control th...

  The smokin’ Hills Golf Resort has the best view of Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State where the 6 th Ondo Motor rally will take place. Ilara-Mokin popularly referred to as the second capital of Ondo State by some has the freshest air and extraordinary history of golf landscape in the world. The hills surrounding the town are legendary for their vigour vapour smoke in the mornings and evenings and sparkles under the sun’s rays. And on the 8 th of April, 2023, it will be open for business, welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors. When the work is done, with the business of racing, the whole kit and caboodle is over and the drivers, technical teams and rest of the workgroup let down their tools, comes the play and party. The race organizers usually hold an after-race party of carnival standing which, for many in attendance who have been present at such motor race festivals in the past, represents the main attractive off-track fun and entertainment; a meaningful, ritualized part of the ...

 Strong strides and opportunities in leaps and bounds are all I see in the upcoming Work & Play Promotions motor racing spectacle planned for the 8th of April, 2023 in Ilara-Mokin Ondo State. Worldwide, the Motorsports culture celebrates "the good life" and the Ondo Auto rally as an offshoot will celebrate "life in Ilara fast lane." For the very first time, I had the honour of sitting in, on a committee meeting of a Motorsports planning event. It was an eye-opener, a witnessing of potentially an opportunistic breaking through on a virgin ground sporting pageant in Nigeria. I believe strongly that the Ondo State government felt the momentum and grabbed it. The indication of how the importance of Motorsports business was to the Ondo identity was not only the agreement that it was first staged in the state capital several months back, but that the endorsement by the political elites led by the governor made sure that the race event takes place in the iconic and...