Sports

2021 UCI Cycling World Tourney ‘ll spurs Nigeria to more Growth-President

Published

5 years ago

October 27, 2021

Joel Ajayi

President of Cycling Federation of Nigeria (CFN) Giandomenico Massari, said participation of Nigeria and experience gained at the just concluded 2021 UCI Track Cycling World Championships in France would further bring more the growth and development of cycling in the country.

Massari made this know while speaking to journalist on Team Nigeria’s outing at the world event on Tuesday in Abuja.

Massari noted that despite Nigeria made their debut in the world track championships they have been able to gather points which will aid their quest in qualifying for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

“Getting four of our athletes to qualify for the world championships alone is a big achievement, because we are rated in best in Africa, countries like Egypt, South Africa presented one and two athletes respectively, also our jersey was rated the best in the world championship.

“We have been able to gather points that would help our quest to qualify for the 2024 Olympics Games in France, the athletes themselves have gained a lot of experience have competed with former and present world champions” he said.

He further called on corporate organisation and private individuals to support the growth of cycling at the grassroot level in the country while commending the athletes and the cycling stakeholders for the great contribution so far.

On her part, Nigeria Team captain to the world championship, Ese Ukpeseraye Lovina, said that with more training and equipment, the team would deliver medals at the next world championships.

“We competed amongst the best athletes in the world, this has further given us a lot of experience, so we just need to training hard and to attend more competitions so that we can be at par with our counterparts outside the country”.

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Sports

Nigeria Targets Grassroots Sports Revival as Tinubu’s Aide Adeboye Unveils National Sports Grassroots Summit

Published

1 hour ago

November 5, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Grassroots Sports Development, Adeboye Adeyinka, has called for a comprehensive overhaul of grassroots sports development in Nigeria, urging stakeholders to prioritise youth empowerment, education and national development alongside medals and trophies.

Adeyinka stated this on Thursday in Abuja during a press conference while announcing the 2026 National Grassroots Sports Summit, scheduled for November 18 and 19 at the Banquet Hall of the State House, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The summit, with the theme, “Creating a New Pathway for Sustainable Grassroots Sports Development,” is expected to bring together government officials, sports administrators, state and local government representatives, private-sector investors, development partners, coaches, athletes and other stakeholders.

The presidential aide stressed that sports development must be measured not only by international achievements but also by the number of young Nigerians whose lives are positively transformed through participation in sports.

He noted that while sporting excellence could lead some athletes to Olympic medals and World Cup glory, sports also offered millions of young people opportunities for education, personal development, employment and social inclusion.

“Sometimes, when we discuss sports development, we speak about stadiums, trophies, medals and international competitions.

“But I want us to remember that at the heart of every sporting achievement is a human being,” Adeyinka said.

He explained that participation in sports could help young Nigerians secure university scholarships, develop discipline, build confidence, acquire life skills and stay away from negative influences.

According to him, sports should be recognised as an important instrument for building character, strengthening communities and creating opportunities for young people, irrespective of their backgrounds.

On talent identification, Adeyinka expressed concern that Nigeria continues to lose potential sporting talents because many children lack access to adequate facilities, qualified coaches, encouragement and organised talent-discovery programmes.

He emphasised the need for an inclusive grassroots sports system that would provide equal opportunities for children in rural communities, public schools, underserved areas and different socioeconomic backgrounds.

The presidential aide maintained that a child’s sporting prospects should not be determined by geographical location, family background or connections to influential individuals.

He warned that without a coordinated approach to identifying and nurturing young talents, the country could continue to miss opportunities to discover future champions.

Adeyinka said the forthcoming summit was designed to develop a sustainable national framework for identifying, nurturing and supporting sporting talents across the 774 local government areas.

He added that the gathering would seek practical solutions to the challenges affecting grassroots sports administration rather than focus solely on speeches and ceremonial activities.

A major objective, he explained, was to move away from fragmented talent-discovery initiatives towards a coordinated national structure connecting school and community competitions with clubs, national competitions and international sporting opportunities.

The two-day summit will deliberate on five key areas: sports participation, talent development, infrastructure, the sports economy and international pathways.

Adeyinka expressed optimism that the recommendations from the summit would provide a roadmap for strengthening grassroots sports development, expanding youth participation and positioning sports as a viable contributor to Nigeria’s economic and social development.

He called on relevant stakeholders to support the initiative and work collectively towards building a sustainable grassroots sports system capable of identifying and developing talents across the country.

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