The Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Haluyat Motunrayo Omidiran, has approved the appointment of seasoned sports journalist Samuel Ahmadu as Special Assistant on Media.

The appointment is part of efforts to strengthen the Commission’s communication architecture, enhance public engagement, and ensure effective dissemination of information regarding the FCC’s mandate, policies and activities.

In his new role, Ahmadu will provide media and communications support to the Executive Chairman and the Commission.

His responsibilities include coordinating press relations, overseeing digital communication platforms, managing media coverage of official engagements, developing strategic communication initiatives, and ensuring accurate and timely engagement with stakeholders and the general public.

Ahmadu brings nearly two decades of experience in journalism, public relations and strategic communications across national and international platforms.

He is a former African correspondent of Goal.com and currently serves as Editor of SavidNews Newspaper and the Nigeria Football Newspaper, where he has overseen editorial operations and coverage of major sporting and public interest events.

He also serves as Media Director of the Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL) and was previously a member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Women’s Football Development Committee. Since 2019, Ahmadu has worked as a media consultant to the Confederation of African Football (CAF), contributing to media strategy and tournament communications at the continental level.

In addition, he currently serves as Secretary of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Federal Capital Territory Chapter.

Reacting to his appointment, Ahmadu expressed appreciation for the opportunity to serve.

“I am deeply honoured by the confidence reposed in me,” he said. “I am committed to deploying my professional experience to support effective, transparent and proactive communication that will strengthen public trust and promote the mandate of the Federal Character Commission.”

The FCC plays a key role in promoting equity and fairness in public service appointments and resource distribution across Nigeria’s diverse regions, and the new appointment is expected to reinforce its public communication strategy.

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Sportivation Media has officially entered Nigeria’s fast-evolving digital broadcast space with the launch of Sportivation Radio, an online radio station designed to deliver timely, credible and interactive sports content to audiences across the country and beyond.

The unveiling of the station represents a major milestone in the company’s vision to advance sports development, storytelling and analysis through innovative and accessible media platforms.

Sportivation Radio is set to offer a rich blend of live commentary, in-depth analysis, documentaries, special features on sports personalities, game-day coverage, community-driven programmes and grassroots sports content. The station will also host discussions spanning local and international sports scenes, complemented by daily entertainment programming.

Chief Executive Officer of Sportivation Media, Taiwo Ibrahim, described the launch as a bold step towards reshaping sports broadcasting in Nigeria in the digital era.

“Sportivation Radio was founded out of a deep passion for sports and a clear gap we identified in how sports stories are told and consumed,” Ibrahim said. “Too often, sports coverage focuses only on results and headlines, while the people, struggles, growth and impact behind the games are overlooked. We created Sportivation Radio to change that narrative.”

According to him, the station’s core objective is to build a credible and inclusive platform that amplifies diverse voices within the sports ecosystem.

“We aim to give voice to athletes, fans, coaches, administrators, media practitioners and young talents across all levels of sports. We want to deliver accurate news, thoughtful analysis and meaningful conversations that truly reflect the spirit of sports and its role in society,” he added.

Ibrahim noted that Sportivation Radio will run a mix of sports and entertainment programmes carefully tailored to meet the expectations of its growing audience, while also placing strong emphasis on audience engagement.

Backed by a team of experienced broadcasters, analysts and emerging media talents, the station plans to combine traditional radio values with digital-first strategies in order to reach a wider and younger demographic.

He further disclosed that a key pillar of the station’s mission is the nurturing of young media professionals, with Sportivation Radio providing opportunities for emerging talents to develop careers in sportscasting and sports media production.

Sportivation Radio can be accessed via Sportivationng.com, the station’s social media platforms, including Sportivation Radio on Facebook, and radio streaming applications such as Radio World and Naija Radio Portal.

Sportivation Media is a sports-focused media company committed to delivering high-quality sports content, promoting talent development and driving meaningful conversations within the sports industry through radio, digital platforms and strategic media initiatives.

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By KUNLE SOLAJA.
Former Lagos State Governor and ex-Minister of Works, Babatunde Raji Fashola, has urged Nigeria to adopt sports as a central pillar of national economic development, describing it as an untapped solution to the country’s youth unemployment crisis.

Speaking at the public presentation of sports journalist Mumini Alao’s autobiography at the University of Lagos, Fashola said Nigeria’s policymakers have “ignored a solution hiding in plain sight” by failing to fully develop sports as a business.

“Sports is a profession that employs mainly young people from their teenage years to around 40.

“When I reflect on the Nigerian problem of youth employment, I tell myself that it persists perhaps because we have been ignoring the solution,” he stated.

Fashola cited global examples of sports as a major economic driver, including the English Premier League’s £3.36 billion GDP contribution to the UK economy in 2015, and Saudi Arabia’s recent sports investments that have added 1% to its GDP.

He recommended integrating sports into national development plans, revamping school curricula to nurture talent from an early age, developing modern sports infrastructure, and ensuring safety, security, and good governance in sports administration.

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