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Athletics: Kaita backs National Relay Championship

Published

6 years ago

December 2, 2019

Damilola John

Chairman of Katsina Athletics Federation, Alhaji Ahmed Ahijo Kaita has thrown his weight behind the National Relay Championship holding in Lagos before the National Sports Festival in Benin.

Kaita said he is in total support of the race in order to encourage the athletes in top shape ahead of next year’s Tokyo Olympic Games.

The Katsina Athletics boss disclosed that since the relay race of the quartet of Nigeria’s Innocent Egbunike, Sunday Uti, Moses and was the first that won the first medal in athletics for the country at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984, there is need to focus more on the relay events.

“We want to bring back the old memories of Nigeria in athletics particularly in the relay races at the Olympic level.

We shall support the Lagos Relay Race and make sure the athletes improve on their timings at the National Sports Festival in Benin the Edo State capital next year,” he said.

Kaita explained that for the athletes to perfect strategies in terms of baton exchange there is for them to participate in local and international tournaments before the Games.

He said he is out to ensure that the experiences of the World Athletics Championship earlier in the year do not repeat itself again.

“This is what we are coming out to correct. we do not want such abnormal experience to occur again. We condemn it in totality,” he added.

Kaita also canvassed for the re-introduction of the monthly Classics pointing out that by so doing, the home-based athletes will be in shape at all times.

He also said foreign-based athletes representing Nigeria at international competitions must be compelled to take part in trials against the home-based as was the practice in the past.

“Athletes should not be given automatic tickets again, we must know their condition and current form so as to avoid the nasty experience of Doha,” he quipped.

Kaita also explained that he will focus on how to bring in Corporate and State government sponsors to help assist the programs of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria AFN.

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

Published

1 week 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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