Featured

Disquiets As Lack Of Funds Threatens Team FCT’s Ahead Edo 2020 NSF

Published

6 years ago

December 9, 2019

Joel Ajayi

With barely two months to the commencement of the 19th National Sports Festival, tagged ‘Edo 2020’ slated to hold in the ancient city of Benin, Team Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are jittery over the delay by the Muhammad Musa Bello-led administration to release funds for their participation at the biannual championship.

Team FCT is yet to commence any preparatory exercise as the authorities are adamant about the plight of the team in spite of the athletes’ threat to dump FCT and compete for other states during the biannual national championship.

Stakeholders had decried the unpleasant experiences Team FCT was subjected in past festivals including the last edition held in Abuja as well as the just recently concluded National Youth Games in Ilorin and called on the FCTA authorities to commence preparations ahead of time so as to avoid a repeat of the ugly experience in Edo.

Danjuma Audu, Secretary, FCT Aquatic Association (AA) said early preparation remains one of the important tools to improve on the performance of the Team FCT at the forthcoming National Sports Festival in Edo.

“We do not want what happened in the 2018 festival to repeat in 2020 in Edo State. I, therefore, appeal to the FCTA, FCT Social Development, and FCT Sports Council to commence immediate preparation and release of funds for athletes to raise the name of FCT high in Edo come to 2020 NSF”.

“I am calling on FCTA to please release the fund for early and better preparation. We don’t want the experience of 2018 where athletes were left with no option than to protest before their allowances were paid to them”.

“In 2018, there were a lot of unpleasant stories regarding the welfare of Team FCT athletes as many resorted to carrying placards in protest of non-payment of camp allowances”.

“We do not want these experiences anymore. Sports should be given priority attention and necessary funds should be released on time for effective camping, preparations, and performance. FCT has all it takes to challenge Delta, Lagos, Rivers and other big states for a top position on the medal table,” he said.

Audu, who spoke to our correspondent on the sideline of the recently concluded Swim Nigeria Annual Swimming Championship, held in Abuja, blasted FCTA for not doing enough to support sports development. He said that Abuja as a federal capital city lacked the necessary facilities to support sports development and called on corporate organizations and well-to-do individuals to support sports development, saying that the government cannot do it alone.

The National Sports Festival was evolved to foster unity and help unearth new talents in the country. Described as Nigeria’s Olympics, it has produced prominent athletes for the country who had won the continental and global medals for the country.

Share on Facebook

Featured

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.

Share on Facebook