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Go And Secure Olympic Tickets, Sports Minister Charges Taekwondo Athletes

Published

6 years ago

February 7, 2020

Joel Ajayi

Minister of Sports, Mr Sunday Dare, met with Team Nigeria that just came back from Fujairah Open, where Nigeria won two bronze medals, one of the two African nations to win medals at the World Taekwondo G-2 ranked event.

The Sports Minister’s timely intervention had made it possible for the team to participate in the important preparatory and Olympic ranking event, where the duo of Elizabeth Anayancho and Benjamin Okuomose picked up bronze medals for the nation.

Members of the team that visited the Honourable Minister to present the medals included NTF Secretary-General, Mr Yusuf Kabir, three-time Olympian and NTF Technical Director Engr. Chika Chukwumerije, National Coach John Victor, Team Captain and African Champion, Chinazum Nwosu, African Bronze Medalists and bronze medal winners at Fujairah Open, Benjamin Okuomose and Elizabeth Anyanacho, and Nigeria Open Gold Medalist, Ifeoluwa Ajayi.

Also present at the occasion were the Director-General of NYSC, Brig-Gen Shuaibu Ibrahim FSS MSS DSS PhD, and retired football professional and international player, Daniel Amokachi, who was recently appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR as the Nation’s Football Ambassador.

In a nod to the positive preparations of the team, the Sports Minister thanked the athletes for their service to the nation at the just concluded international event and reiterated his promise to support the team on their quest to qualify for the Olympics.

“I have seen how you have been working hard and how your technical crew has also been putting in the hours to ensure you secure the ticket. I thank you for your performance in Fujairah. You can be rest assured that we will keep supporting you until you secure your tickets to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. It is left for you to go and secure the tickets in Morocco.”

The Honourable Minister also expressed his delight at the young age range of the team.

“What makes me happy is to see how young the team is. When a team involves persons with the age range of 16 to 24, then that it truly about youth and sports. These kinds of persons can be developed for both the short and long term”

Speaking on behalf of the Team, Captain Chinazum Nwosu thanked the Honourable Minister by presenting a Taekwondo uniform to Mr Sunday Dare as the athletes’ appreciation for the Sport Minister’s support and encouragement.

“We are delighted by the support and encouragement given to us by just meeting with us to thank and encourage us. It goes a long way and we promise that our team will work very hard to clinch the Olympic tickets in a fortnight.”

The African Qualification Tournament for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics for the Taekwondo event will be taking place 20 – 24 February 2020 in Rabat, Morocco

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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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