Governing Bodies
NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT DEVELOPS NEW INITIATIVE TO SUPPORT GRASSROOT SPORTS
Nigeria’s Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare has reiterated the government’s commitment to support the development of grassroot sports, through a new initiative of the Headmasters’ and Principal’s Cup tournament.
To buttress this, the Minister said that the Headmaster’s tournament which will involve 20,000 primary schools across the nation will be used to grow and nurture a new generation of athletes that will take over the older ones.
Dare made this assertion during a visit by the discovered talents of the 5th National Youth Games, Ilorin and representatives of Nigerian Tulip International College in his conference room at the MKO Abiola National stadium, Abuja.
Nigerian Tulip International College is partnering with the ministry to give the athletes 100% scholarship for their secondary school education, authenticating and validating what the country sets out to do as a nation that loves sports, not just football but other sports.
The minister said that the ministry started a campaign titled “Adopt an Athlete”, which targets both individuals and corporate bodies to adopt a number of athletes and train them.
Sunday Dare, who is happy that NTIC has come up to partner with the ministry, said that this is unprecedented and will open doors for other partnership with schools and other corporate bodies. He believes that the partnership will trigger a greater interest across the country.
According to the Minister, this sponsorship goes to speak to the fact that the nexus between education and sports is inseparable, where the mind and skills are developed, and with this the nation will have well rounded sports men and women.
He used the occasion to call on other corporate organizations, local and international schools to reach out to the ministry for the sponsorship template, as there are more than 200 discovered talented athletes, which the ministry plans to send to Federations to mentor and develop their skills.
The minister also appreciated the coaches, as they are critical to the success of these athletes.
The Vice Principal, Academics of Nigerian Tulip International Colleges, Bob Odey Ushie, in his remarks, thanked the minister for coming to turn around sports in the country.
Ushie said that the school thought it wise to bring forth a new way of involving our youth in sports even as they study.
The school, which already runs a Football Academy, will employ coaches to train between 11 & 25 athletes in seven different sports, after which they will be given 100% sponsorship, Ushie added.
The school has agreed to sign an MOU with the ministry.
The Permanent Secretary, Olusade Adesola, in his welcome remarks made it known that this proposal is in line with the ministry’s initiative towards grassroot sports development.
Governing Bodies
Sanusi set for record-extending tenure as Nigeria’s football politicians assemble in Asaba
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.
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.
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.
Governing Bodies
Like in Egypt, former Nigerian Olympian, Sadiq Abdulahi wants Tinubu to declare ‘State of Emergency’ in Sports
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.
“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.
“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
Governing Bodies
CAF gives Yoruba and Arabic interpretations of ‘OLA’ the Super Cup 2024 Official Match Ball
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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