Sports

Queens Baton Relay ends Tour Of Nigeria

Published

4 years ago

October 19, 2021

As the Queens Baton Ralay ends its tour of Nigeria after been received by President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday, stakeholders in the Olympic family has said that Nigeria, being the first point of arrival of the Baton in Africa symbolises that the country aligns with the Commonwealth countries around the world.

The President, Nigeria Commonwealth Games, Engr. Habul Gumel disclosed this shortly after a relay by athletes and boat ride with the Baton at Jabi Lake as well as the city tour around Abuja which signifies the end of the Baton’s tour in Nigeria.

According to him, the arrival of the Baton in Nigeria on Friday October 15, 2021, is very significant as can be deduced from the reception it received from the day of its arrival at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja by all stakeholders from the general public, the Nigerian Olympic Committee as well as officials of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.

Engr. Gumel assured that already, the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development Mr. Sunday Dare has constituted a committee for the Games, and beginning from November, Nigeria will intensify her preparations with efforts also being made to get the athletes ready for the Games.

He commended the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare and the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, in particular, for its commitment and investment in sporting infrastructure in the country.

Earlier in his remarks, the Director, Federations, Elite Athletes Department, (FEAD), in the Ministry, Dr Simon Ebhojaiye noted that the symbolism associated with the baton is aimed at drawing attention to the fact that Nigeria is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations and frontline in the Commonwealth Games, stressing that the country is ready for extraordinary performance at the Commonwealth outings.

He added that going by the programme for the Queens Baton Relay in Abuja, the team will leave Nigeria today for Gambia, Sierra Leone and will go round the participating countries before arriving the city of Birmingham, host of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in July, 2022.

Queen’s baton relay is held every four years and is expected to feature over 7,000 baton relay bearers across the Commonwealth nations.

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Sports

FCT FA Board Member Urges Grassroots Reform, Hopeful For Super Eagles World Cup Qualification

Published

11 hours ago

October 5, 2025

The Gleamer

Legal Practitioner And Administrator Barr Bucknor Threatens To Petition FCT Minister Over Abandoned Stadiums

Despite Nigeria’s precarious position in the race for a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Barrister Babatunde Burknor, a board member of the FCT Football Association (FA), remains hopeful that the Super Eagles can still secure qualification.

Nigeria currently sits third in their qualification group with 11 points from 8 matches, trailing Benin Republic and South Africa, who both lead with 14 points. Yet Burknor, a seasoned football administrator and grassroots sports advocate, believes all is not lost.

In a recent interview made available to BSN Sports, Burknor said: “Nigeria’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup may appear almost impossible, but that doesn’t mean it is out of reach. The situation is tough, yes, but looking at the quality of players in our squad, I still believe we can make it.”

He added that unexpected results from other group rivals could work in Nigeria’s favour.

“Football is unpredictable. There is still a chance that South Africa, Benin Republic, or Rwanda could drop points. If we win our remaining two games, we still stand a chance. Sometimes football reflects life where the strong may fall while the seemingly weak stand tall.”

Calls for Grassroots Reform in the FCT

Beyond national team concerns, Burknor also used the opportunity to address the state of sports development in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), urging the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to take concrete action to revamp local infrastructure.

“We have deep-rooted problems when it comes to grassroots sports. The major issue is a lack of funding and commitment from those charged with driving development at that level,” he said.

Burknor lamented the disappearance of once-thriving youth competitions like the Chairman’s Cup, Principal’s Cup, and Shell Cup, stating that such events played a crucial role in identifying and nurturing young talent.

“It’s disheartening that these programs are no longer active. Development is impossible without facilities, yet we lack even basic training grounds.”

The legal luminary revealed that he personally upgraded the sports facility at a government secondary school in his area to serve as a makeshift training centre, due to the absence of a functioning local stadium.

He is currently drafting a petition to Minister Wike, over abandoned stadiums in FCT, urging a comprehensive audit of officials responsible for sports development across the six Area Councils of the FCT.

Progress in Gwagwalada Football Development

As Vice Chairman of the Gwagwalada Football Council, Burknor highlighted the success of the Gwagwalada Football League, which has become a model for other Area Councils.

“In just two years, we’ve turned the Gwagwalada Football League into a success story. Several players from the league have already secured contracts in Europe. This shows what can be achieved with vision and consistency.”

Barrister Burknor, emphasized that grassroots football holds the key to Nigeria’s long-term football success and must be taken seriously.

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