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Governing Bodies

FG inaugurates board members of National Institute for Sports

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The Federal Government  has inaugurated the new Board Members of the National Institute of Sports (NIS) with a view to providing effective governance and policy direction for the Institution in line with the enabling Instrument that established it.

The Honourable Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Mr. Sunday Dare, while inaugurating the Board in his office in Abuja today, called on them to bring their wealth of experience to bear in ensuring the realisation of the  mission and mandate of the Institute

The Minister observed that the Institution was topmost in Africa for sports administration before it suddenly lost its glory, but expressed optimism that with the commitment of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Administration to sports development in the country as well as the appointment of seasoned sports administrators into the new Board,  “i believe the Institution will occupy its pride of place in Africa again.” 

He added that with the recent approval of the National Sports Industry Policy, (NSIP), which provides for private sector participation in sports as a business and not mere recreation, the challenge of funding and other related issues concerning sporting activities in Nigeria, will soon be a thing of the past.

“Your role as a Board is explicit, to move National Institute of Sports in the direction of modernity much beyond the reputation of NIS before now,” Dare said.

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He informed that though efforts are ongoing to establish the first university of sports in the country, the Institute till then, remains the nation’s sports institution that needs credibility of examination process to ensure its certificate is fully recognised. 

Dare stated further that the Ministry has signed a Ten-Year Football Masterplan which is aimed at addressing the fundamental anomalies that have plagued the development of football in the country, for the benefit of a broader strata of the society.

Speaking earlier, the Permanent Secretary,  Federal Ministry of Sports and Youth Development, Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar,  called on the Board Members to partner with relevant institutions and stakeholders in order to realise the mission and vision of the Institute

He assured that the Ministry will continue to support the Board to ensure it succeeds in the discharge of its mandate

Responding,  the Board Chairman, Barr. Danladi Ibrahim thanked President Muhammadu Buhari, the Honourable Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Mr. Sunday Dare, as well as top management staff of the Administration for the privilege given to them to serve, assuring  that they will bring in their wealth of experience to bear in ensuring the realization of the Institute’s mandate.

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The newly inaugurated board members are as follows-

i. Barr. Danladi Ibrahim – Chairman 

ii. Major General Okpeh Wilson Ali – Member

iii. AIG Hafiz Inuwa – Member

iv. Lawrence Babatunde Aremu – Member

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v. Dr. Fatima Kabir Umar – Member

vi. Boniface C. Odum – Member

vii. Salisu Manman Aliyu – Member

viii. Ag. DCG Gregory A. Itohoh

ix. Prof O. A. Moronkola – Member

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x. The Registrar – Member/Secretary 

xi. Kunle Solaja – Member 

xii. Commodore Omatseye Nesiama- Member

xiii. Mr. Awogbade Ayorinde Gbadebo

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Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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Governing Bodies

Sanusi set for record-extending tenure as Nigeria’s football politicians assemble in Asaba

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BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

Speculations gathered ahead of the 2024 Annual General Meeting of the Nigeria Football Federation holding in Asaba on Friday have it that tenure elongation for the General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, is a major item on the agenda.

Neither formal confirmation nor denial has been issued since one of the leading newspapers in Nigeria, ThisDay dropped the hint.  

 The agenda of the meeting is also not made public. Dr, Sanusi is the longest-serving General Secretary in history having been in office from 30 March 2015 making 3,476 days or nine years six months and four days.

It easily drowned that of his closest rival in tenure – Sani Toro whose tenure from 21 December 1993 to 3 May  1999 is merely 2020 days or five years, six months and 12 days.

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 Thus, no one had enjoyed a longer period in office than the incumbent, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi.  It is speculated that the tenure will be extended as NFF has reported that all delegates have arrived in the Delta State capital by Thursday evening.

The NFF Annual General Assembly, the first of which took place 90 years ago in Lagos on 19 February 1934, is the biggest assemblage of football administrators and stakeholders in the country.

In one such meeting on 24 July 2008 in Makurdi, the football body changed its name from NFA to NFF.

This year, according to a press release by the NFF, the plenary will have in attendance, the chairmen and secretaries of football associations in the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory, chairmen and secretaries of the Nigeria Premier Football League, Nigeria National League, Nigeria Women Football League and the Nationwide League One, as well as chairmen and secretaries of the referees’ association, players’ union and coaches’ association. This group of 88 makes up the Congress.

 They are joined by the members of the NFF Executive Committee and the management team as well as former NFF Presidents and General Secretaries.

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The Minister of Sports Development, John Owan Enoh, is announced as the special guest. Nigeria’s Member of the FIFA Council, Amaju Melvin Pinnick is also expected as well as a representative of the West African Football Union (WAFU B).

The Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Francis Oborevwori will declare the General Assembly open. 

Venue is the Unity Hall of the Delta State Government House.

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Governing Bodies

Like in Egypt, former Nigerian Olympian, Sadiq Abdulahi wants Tinubu to declare ‘State of Emergency’ in Sports

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Former Nigerian tennis player and Olympian, Prof. Sadiq Abdulahi has called for drastic action to arrest the decline of Nigeria in global sporting events.

  The former tennis player who is now a professor in the United States declared that the “failure to win a medal at the regular 2024 Paris Olympics, the few medals at the Paris Paralympic and the fallout at the National Youth Sports Festival has exposed the deep problems facing the sport’s sector.”

  He wants Nigeria to have the same approach that the Egyptian president has taken while reacting to the country’s performance at the Paris 2024 Olypics.

Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi ordered  a comprehensive evaluation of sports federations that  participated at the Paris Olympic Games, following a mission report submitted by the country’s sports minister.

 According to Prof. Abdulahi, the National Sports Federations charged with the preparation of elite athletes have failed to do their job despite the cry for funding from the government.

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“Federal Government cannot adequately fund all the Olympics sports. It is impossible.

“By declaring a state of emergency, new people, new approaches and new funding models will be identified. More importantly, the Federal Government will redefine grassroots sports development.

“We will lay sustainable foundation for sports development.”

Continuing, he called for the return of the National Sports Commission (NSC) which enabling decree was abolished through Decree No. 7 of 1991, but came back through presidential proclamation under Sani Abacha before it was abolished again.

 The original NSC was established in 1964 as National Sports Council before the promulgation of Decree 34 of 1971 which legalised it as  the apex Federal Government agency to control, regulate and organize sports.

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  “The FG may now bring back the National Sports Commission or the National Sports Authority. Our emerging national economy with the full participation of the private sector can support this new beginning. I hope this helps.” 

RELATED STORY: President Al-Sisi orders sports system overhaul

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Governing Bodies

CAF gives Yoruba and Arabic interpretations of  ‘OLA’ the Super Cup 2024 Official Match Ball

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The Confédération African of Football, CAF, has given the linguistics interpretation of OLA, the confederation’s official match balls produced by Puma which has also unveiled a special edition for the Super Cup duel holding on Friday in Saudi Arabia.

According to CAF, OLA, symbolizing the dynamic and energetic nature of African football, means “wealth,” “honour,” and “respect” in Yoruba and “rise” and “success” in Arabic.

The OLA ball stands out with its vibrant design and cultural significance. “OLA” 

The ball is a mix of black and gold, representing power and sophistication. The ball will be the centrepiece of the eagerly-awaited match between the two giants of African football.

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