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Sports Ministry, Junior Achievement Nigeria Join Forces For Youth Development

Published

6 years ago

January 20, 2020

Joel Ajayi

Continuing on its quest to ensure that the Nigerian Youth is equipped with the needed digital skills to compete favourably in the world, Ministry of Youth and Sports Development has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Junior Achievement Nigeria (Worldwide), the non profit organisation in the world, leading in financial literacy training, digital skills acquisition and entrepreneurship for the Youth.

The Minister revealed that the signing of the MoU is a culmination of several meetings between the Ministry and the Junior Achievement Nigeria, in the past several months with an overriding passion and concern on both sides is for the Nigerian Youth.

Highlighting the importance of the partnership, the Minister said, “Based on data and statistics, you will know that clearly there is a digital skills gap not just in Nigeria, but also across Africa. So, there is a need for us to ensure that we give our Youth the necessary digital skills to be able to produce the digital tools they need to become entrepreneur, self-starters and also gain employment.

“Once again this brings us to an important juncture in an effort to leverage on some public-private partnership and also to seek out strategic implementation partner as we work not just to empower our youth but to invest in them to providing them with requisite skills necessary for engagement in the 21st century digital economy.

Recalling the President’s charge to keep the productively busy, he said ways to keep the Youth busy includes making them employable more, more knowledgeable and equipping them with what they need to be able to compete in the world.

“Yes we are about Sports, but we are also about Youth Development. This understanding and partnership with Junior Achievement we believe, will go a long way in helping to bridge the digital skills gaps among the Youths of this country.

He reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to playing a key part in the process which is embedded in the DEEL initiative which looks at Digital literacy and Digital skills, Enterpreneurship, Employment, Leadership and Mentoring. He said the Ministry would leverage on the 64 digital hubs owned by Junior Achievement Nigeria across the country in conjunction with about 24 Youth Development centres the Ministry hopes to bring on board across the country, with others centres as will be made available by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The Executive Director Mrs. Simisola Nwogugu responding, thanked the Minister and said that in line with the organisation’s 20th anniversary celebration, the organisation is scaling up the number of Youth to equip with digital and entrepreneurial skills and would do just that with this partnership.

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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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