Sports

48-hours Ultimatum To Minister: Orbih, Igali Others Deny Link To Group

Published

4 years ago

May 6, 2021

The Caretaker Committee chairmen of the 30 Sports Federation have denied any link to the group threatening to protest and take legal action against the sports minister Sunday Dare over the dissolution of the boards of Sports Federations after the expiration of their tenure.

The immediate past president and chairman caretaker committee of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), Barrister Francis Orbih, urged Nigerians to disregard the false statement claiming members of the newly inaugurated caretaker committee were unhappy about the dissolution of the boards.

“My attention has been drawn to a fake statement claiming that members of the newly inaugurated Boards were unhappy about the dissolution of the board.

“Someone reportedly signed on behalf of my Federation, this is totally false. I believe impostors are at work. We were all swearing in the ceremony by the Minister, so can we be part of something if we don’t believe in it?

“The public should disregard this false statement. We want to focus on our Olympics preparations and win laurels for our country.

“We appreciate what the Minister is doing and would give him total support to ensure we do well in Tokyo.”

While reacting to the report, the Chairman of the Wrestling Federation, Dr Daniel Igali also affirmed that, “We need to stay focused as the Olympics draws nearer. We can’t afford to get distracted.

“We are determined and we are forging ahead. The Minister is giving us all the support and we need to justify all his efforts by winning medals at the Olympics.”

On his parts the chairman of the Nigerian Golf Federation and former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, said: “We all aligned with the Minister as we need to focus on how Nigeria can do well at the Olympics.”

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Sports

“ This Award Gives Me Hope” Makanjuola Nureni Honoured for His Dedication to Nigerian Sports

Published

2 hours ago

November 1, 2025

The Gleamer

Abuja-based football administrator and philanthropist, Makanjuola Nureni, has been honoured with the Distinguished Service Award by the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) in recognition of his outstanding support to sports journalism and his immense contributions to sports development in Nigeria.

The prestigious award was presented on Friday in Abuja during SWAN’s Diamond Jubilee Celebration held in Abuja, marking 60 years of promoting sports journalism and excellence across the nation.

Expressing his gratitude after receiving the honour, Makanjuola Nureni described the award as a source of inspiration and renewed motivation to continue his lifelong commitment to youth and grassroots sports.

“This award gives me hope and motivation to do more. It’s a source of inspiration to me and my supporters, and I believe it will encourage us to invest more in youth sports development in Nigeria,” he said.

He added that the recognition serves as a morale booster after decades of hard work and silent impact in the sports community.

“I feel happy and fulfilled because we have been doing this for decades, and many times, our efforts went unnoticed. But I thank God that SWAN recognized people like us,” Nureni expressed.

Makanjuola Nureni is the founder and owner of Water FC Academy, a renowned football institution based in Abuja that focuses on discovering, nurturing, and empowering young Nigerian talents.

Through Water FC, he has developed and sponsored numerous players who have gone on to represent Nigeria’s national teams and play professionally in clubs across Africa, Europe, and beyond.

His consistency, passion, and investment in the development of young athletes have made him a key figure in Nigerian grassroots football.

In presenting the award, SWAN commended Nureni’s unwavering dedication to the growth of sports and his continuous support for sports journalism and youth empowerment.

The association highlighted his decades-long service to football development and described him as a true partner in the promotion of excellence within Nigerian sports.

The SWAN Diamond Jubilee Celebration brought together prominent figures from sports administration, the media, and government sectors to honour individuals and organizations whose contributions have advanced sports development and journalism in Nigeria.

Nureni’s recognition stands out as a testament to his vision, consistency, and commitment to creating opportunities for young athletes and strengthening the foundation of Nigerian football.

With this honour, Makanjuola Nureni further cements his legacy as one of the foremost private contributors to sports growth and youth development in Nigeria.

His story continues to inspire a new generation of sports administrators and philanthropists dedicated to transforming Nigerian sports from the grassroots up.

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