Sports
Nigeria’s TIG Club win Presidential Sports Award at the 61st Independence Anniversary
Joel Ajayi
Coming from the euphoria of been the first Nigeria Gymnastic club to represent the country in this year edition of the PYL Gymnastic League in the world, the Tony International Gymnastic TIG Club has once again added another cap to its feather by winning the presidential Sports Award in Abuja at the 61st Independence Anniversary.
TIG Club was one of many Nigerian individuals, organizations that received the award on Thursday night at the State House, by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Representing the club at the award was one of TIG products, a young and future Olympic medal prospect A 10-year-old Stephanie Onusiriuka who won four medals in Gymnastics for Team Anambra at Just concluded National Sports Festival NSF in Benin, Edo state.
Speaking shortly after the award on Friday night in Abuja, the founder of the TIG club Coach Anthony Asuquo said the award remains the best for the club established 10 years ago.
According to him, whatever one is doing, do it well, because people are watching, I have never gotten and from sports, ministry expect Sports Writer Association of Nigeria FCT Chapter as well as many organizations and international.
“But to be recognized by the presidency, I think it’s a very big one for TIG Club that, we were nominated and got the award among 200 million Nigerians this simply means TIG is doing well.
“Just a few weeks ago, TIG Club was recognized by an international body, as TIG is set to play at the PYA Gymnastic League I think it’s another big one for the country and we give glory to God we thank the President and the organizer.”
He frowned at the ministry of Youth and Sports development for not giving enough support to many individual efforts to grow the sports sector in the country.
“We have trained over 2000 young gymnasts, we have produced the like of Uche Ike who represented Nigeria at the just concluded 2020 Olympic in Japan for the first time in the history of gymnastics since 1976
“The 10-year-old Stephanie Onusiriuka who made Nigeria proud in Edo was discovered by TIG Club, Gabriel Asamota who represent Nigeria at All Africa Games in Algeria was also discovered and raised by TIG Club and so many others.
“But the ministry of youth and Sports Development has not even done anything for us, we pay for gymnastics hall, we paid federation affiliation but even we are yet to receive a thank you letter it’s very bad and pathetic.”
Sports
Tinubu, Fashola, Governors, UNESCO, Sports Leaders to Headline National Grassroots Sports Summit
Joel Ajayi
The stage is being set for a landmark gathering at the Presidential Villa as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, and leading figures from government, sports administration and international development feature in the proposed opening-day programme of the National Grassroots Sports Development Summit 2026.
In a statement signed by Thursday by the Chairperson Media Sub-com National Grassroot Sports Summit Dr. (Mrs.) Kehinde Ajayi stated that, the two-day Summit, scheduled for November 18–19, 2026, at the Banquet Hall, State House, Presidential Villa, Abuja, is being organized by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports Development, Hon. Adeyinka Anthony Adeboye.
With the theme “Creating a New Pathway for Sustainable Grassroots Sports Development,” the gathering seeks to produce practical solutions to Nigeria’s longstanding challenges in talent discovery, infrastructure, funding, coaching and athlete development.
The opening day, Wednesday, November 18, promises high-level engagement, with President Tinubu listed as Special Guest of Honour, while Fashola is scheduled to deliver a keynote address.
Also featuring in the Day One programme is Dr. Tayo Aduloju, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), whose organization has been engaged as technical partner to help translate discussions into a workable development roadmap.
Other personalities and institutions on the opening-day lineup include the Chairman and Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko and Hon. Bukola Olopade; the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum; the President of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON); and the Head of Office and UNESCO Representative to Nigeria.
Also listed are Barrister Enitan Oshodi, President of the African Table Tennis Federation; the President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee; and Dr. Musa Nakorji of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Research Department.
The involvement of these personalities reflects the Summit’s emphasis on connecting sports development with economic planning, education, grassroots governance, international cooperation and private-sector investment.
Adeboye described the gathering as an opportunity to move Nigerian sports beyond isolated achievements towards a coordinated national development system.
“The real question is not whether Nigeria has sporting talent.
We know we have talent in abundance. The question is how we build a system that discovers, nurtures and supports that talent consistently, from our communities and schools to the international stage,” he said.
He stressed that the participation of state governments, local councils, development institutions and sports administrators would be critical to producing lasting outcomes.
The Summit will continue on Thursday, November 19, with further stakeholder engagements aimed at developing actionable recommendations for sustainable grassroots sports development with preparations intensifying, organizers are confident that the gathering will provide a defining platform for strengthening the foundation of Nigerian sports and expanding opportunities for young people nationwide.
-
Featured7 years agoLampard Names New Chelsea Manager
-
Featured7 years agoFG To Extends Lockdown In FCT, Lagos Ogun states For 7days
-
Featured7 years agoChildren Custody: Court Adjourns Mike Ezuruonye, Wife’s Case To April 7
-
Featured7 years agoNYSC Dismisses Report Of DG’s Plan To Islamize Benue Orientation Camp
-
Featured5 years agoTransfer Saga: How Mikel Obi Refused to compensate me After I Linked Him Worth $4m Deal In Kuwait SC – Okafor
-
Featured7 years ago
Board urges FG to establish one-stop rehabilitation centres in 6 geopolitical zones
-
Sports4 years ago
TINUBU LAMBAST DELE MOMODU
-
News2 years agoZulu to Super Eagles B team, President Tinubu is happy with you
