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Dare Bags Award of Excellence from Oyo SWAN

Published

4 years ago

December 17, 2021

The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Chief Sunday Dare, on Thursday defied the popular scriptural dictum which asserts that a prophet is without honour in his home place.

Contrary to this widespread belief, Chief Dare was honoured in his home state of Oyo with an award of excellence by the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Oyo State chapter.

Presenting the award to the Minister during the semifinals of the Oyo SWAN Five – A – Side Football Tournament held at Lummy Turf, Idi Odo Challenge, Ibadan, the Chairman of the body of sports writers in the state, Comrade Niyi Alebiosu explained that the award was given to the Minister, who hails from Ogbomoso, to appreciate his immense contributions to the development of Sports in the country.

“In all honesty, Chief Dare deserves this award. He is a detribalized Nigerian who genuinely pursues the even and equitable development of sports in all parts of the country. I know this because I have worked with the Honourable Minister at close quarters several times in the past,” Alebiosu noted.

While lauding the initiatives of the Minister in ensuring the renovations of key federal government owned stadia, starting with the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, Oyo SWAN Chairman implored Chief Dare to also renovate Nigeria’s first modern stadium, the Obafemi Awolowo stadium in Ibadan.

“On behalf of the sports loving people of Oyo State, I want to appeal to you sir, to renovate and if possible upgrade the Obafemi Awolowo stadium here in Ibadan. This stadium is historic and too important to be left to rot. This stadium had hosted major historical landmark sports events. In actual fact, the history of sports in Nigeria won’t be complete without reference to the roles played by the stadium, formerly called Liberty Stadium,” the widely traveled and highly experienced sports journalist said.

In his response to the unprecedented honour in his home state, the Minister who is the first indigenous Minister to receive such honour from Oyo SWAN, lauded the resilience and splendid performance of the Alebiosu led SWAN in Oyo State.

“I commend the hard works of sports journalists in this state. You guys have been splendid in the excellent way you successfully organized your Week. As an administrator, I know it’s not easy putting an event of this magnitude together without any major hitch. Also, I shower encomiums on Oyo SWAN because you are thinking out of the box and setting the pace for others, in line with the tradition of the pacesetter state,”Chief Dare remarked.

The Minister pledged to support the Association of sports writers in the state in any capacity.

In the semifinals watched by the Sports Minister on Thursday, the competition’s defending champions, BCOS rode on the back of the hard fighting King FM to the final, after triumphing over their opponents 6-5 in the penalty shoot outs used to decide the winner. The two teams had played out a 1-1 draw at regulation time.

In the other semifinal game, Agidigbo had a smooth ride over 32 FM, lashing them with three unreplied goals.
The two finalists will battle for the coveted trophy on Friday with the BCOS, known as Akede Bombers, poised to win the trophy again.

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Featured

Nigeria’s Historic Bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games: A Call for National and Global Support

Published

6 days 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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