Featured

Our Focus is To Create Opportunities – Minister

Published

6 years ago

December 16, 2019

The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare, has said the Ministry’s focus is to create opportunities that will assist youth become gainfully engaged.

Mr. Dare stated this when he spoke on a panel at the 6th Annual Convention of Africa’s Young Entrepreneurs (A.Y.E) which took place in Akure the Ondo state capital on Saturday.

The Minister said the realization that the era of duplicating “empowerment programmes” is over has made the focus to shift to creating opportunities for youth that have acquired the requisite skills.

He said “It is reassuring that the Ondo state governor has launched initiatives that address poverty reduction among the youth through the Office of Innovation and Partnership that is implementing a series of human capital development programmes. Of particular note are initiatives like the Job Matching and Internship that has trained about 800 youth between April and now as well as the Technical and Vocational programme aimed at ensuring artisans are not being left out”. He described the three innovation hubs equipping Ondo State youth in the specific areas of incubation, acceleration and data sharing with artificial intelligence as impressive.

The Minister said he had taken time to outline the youth-friendly initiatives of the Ondo state government because the Governor shares the same vision with the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development which sees the youth as resources in need of investment to realize inherent potentials.

Describing the convention as timely, he said: “This year’s convention is equally aligned with President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment of the government to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in the course of the next ten years”.

While calling on policymakers to make investments in line with the digital revolution era, he said the Federal Government is working to bridge the Digital Skills Gap which exists in Nigeria and Africa at large, which he described as the reason most youths remain unemployed.

The minister explained that “It is for this reason that we are focusing on creating opportunities so that youth have been trained in empowerment programmes can put their acquired skills to use.”

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