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NYSC seeks closer ties with NFF

Published

6 years ago

August 28, 2019

The Management of the National Youth Service Corps in the Federal Capital Territory has expressed a keen desire to establish closer co-operation with the Nigeria Football Federation in order to achieve its extra mandate of empowerment of the youth in the country.

Speaking during a visit to the General Secretary of NFF, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi at the NFF Secretariat, Abuja on Wednesday, the new NYSC Coordinator, FCT, Hajiya Walida Siddique Isa said that the NFF has the capacity to firmly set on course youth corpers who have the aspiration to make a career in the round leather game.

“I have just resumed as the Coordinator and I feel that it is important to meet with various stakeholders of the NYSC, of which the NFF is key. We believe that the NFF has a lot to offer us in the area of empowerment of the youth who desire to play football. We need guidance for those of them who want to make football their career and also need technical support for our football team as a whole because we play an annual competition known as the Director General’s Cup.

“We commend your efforts in trying to take Nigerian football to new heights. The work you are doing with the various National Teams is applaudable.”

Responding, Dr Sanusi expressed delight at the visit by the NYSC Coordinator and her Management team, disclosing that he has always fully supported NYSC programmes and schemes right from his early days as a university lecturer.

“I partook in programmes and schemes of the NYSC right from my days in Sokoto State, even as ahead of the department of physical and health education. I have always been interested in the programme as I love to encourage and inspire the youth.

“It is commendable that you have come here to seek our support in the area of empowering the youth of this nation; this means that you are not just restricting ourselves to teaching them about patriotism and nationalism. Your objective is praiseworthy as football is one sure way of keeping the youth away from social and criminal vices.”

Also present at the meeting were NFF’s Director of Competition, Mr Bola Oyeyode; Director of Technical, Coach Bitrus Bewarang; Director of Finance, Mr. Charity Kadiri and; Director of Communications, Mr Ademola Olajire.

From the NYSC came also Mrs Blessing Iruma (Assistant Director, Corps Inspection); Mrs Comfort Jackson (Assistant Director, PRU); Helen Eyo (Chief Inspector) and; Joel Mambula (Personal Assistant to the Coordinator).

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Nigeria’s Historic Bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games: A Call for National and Global Support

Published

7 days ago

September 30, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

Nigeria is poised to make history as it seeks to host the Centenary Commonwealth Games in 2030, a monumental opportunity that promises to transform the nation’s economy, infrastructure, and global standing.

More than a sporting spectacle, the Games would serve as a catalyst for development across multiple sectors, leaving behind a legacy of national pride and sustainable growth.

The benefits of hosting the Games extend far beyond the sports arena. Nigeria stands to gain both empirical and non-empirical advantages, with direct, indirect, and induced impacts that will touch every corner of society. Infrastructural development will take center stage, with new facilities such as indoor sports halls, conference centers, and improved road networks reshaping urban landscapes while strengthening the nation’s capacity to host future international events.

Economic growth is another significant dividend. Over 10,000 jobs are expected to be created, spanning construction, facility management, event planning, and tourism services.

The hospitality industry will undergo major improvements as hotels and resorts are upgraded to meet international standards, while local restaurants, lounges, and tourist attractions will see a surge in patronage from international visitors. Small and medium enterprises, particularly in the transport, finance, and food service sectors, will become some of the greatest beneficiaries, as the Games generate new demand and expand opportunities for local businesses.
The Commonwealth Games will also accelerate the growth of Nigeria’s sports industry.

Investments in training facilities, coaching, and talent development will inspire a new generation of athletes, ensuring long-term benefits that extend beyond 2030, a major focus of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
At the same time, the process of preparing for the Games will create opportunities for Nigerians to learn new crafts, acquire technical skills, and engage in global-standard event management, thereby strengthening human capacity and innovation across industries.

Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the Nigeria Sports Commission, and Hon. Bukola Olopade, the Director General, have been widely recognized for their tireless and visionary leadership in repositioning Nigeria’s sporting sector.

Their commitment to facilitating infrastructural development and strengthening grassroots sports development has laid the foundation for Nigeria’s bold bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Under their leadership, the NSC is fostering strategic partnerships and driving innovation in sports administration, they have demonstrated the nation’s readiness to stage an event of such global magnitude.

Beyond the tangible gains, the hosting of the 2030 Commonwealth Games carries profound symbolic value. It would be a moment of unity and pride, a chance for Nigeria to showcase its cultural richness, resilience, and excellence to the world.
As a centenary edition, the Games would stand as a historic milestone not just for the Commonwealth but for Nigeria itself, cementing its place on the global stage as a capable, ambitious, and forward-looking nation.

The gains from hosting the Commonwealth Games can never be undermined or overemphasized. This is Nigeria’s time to step forward and show the world our resilience, and excellence. We call on every Nigerian, across sectors and communities, to support this noble aspiration.

Nigeria’s pursuit of the 2030 Commonwealth Games is a vision for transformation, a blueprint for national development, and a legacy project that will inspire generations to come.

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