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UNTIMELY CALL THAT BACKFIRED IN THE FACE OF MEDIOCRITY

Published

4 years ago

January 24, 2022

If truly President Muhammadu Buhari spoke to the Super Eagles team before the Tunisia game on sunday , the point for me is why hurriedly rushed the President to speak to the team ahead of a Round of 16 tie?

What level of hypocricy and sycophancy can we call this?

I know for a fact some people because they wanted to look good in the eyes of the President, they ill adviced him to talk to the boys in this early stage of the Competition.

Let us get it clear, there is nothing wrong with the President speaking with the boys( A fatherly call) but it is just too early in the competition to pull such stunt.

I remembered even as a young boy in Tunisia 1994, the Military Head of State then Gen. Sani Abacha spoke to the Eagles. The question is when did he talk to them, the day of the final between the Eagles and the Chipolopolos of Zambia.

That is a case of putting a call through to the team at the right time as the Number one citizen of the Country, not in the round of sixteen of the Nations Cup. A competition that in the last two decades ,getting to the last four is almost our birthright even with the most challenging Eagles side.

Let us not forget that Nigeria is not a small footballing country on the continent like the likes of Comoros who are playing in a knock out phase of a Nations Cup for the very first time in their history when they play cameroon . So if the President of Comoros for example put this kind of call through to the players at this stage, it is totally understandable and in order not a country like ours.

Unfortunately those that hurriedly convinced the President to speak to the team, were actually not thinking of the team but did that for personal gains. They wanted to be seen as working and also used that to further penetrate Aso Rock.

Infact the charades started in the Group stage when we started taking the CBN Governor to the Dressing Room of the players to announce promises upon promises which for me were total distractions and uncalled for.

We just like doing things upside down for various selfish motives and too bad this time around our mediocrity was exposed very early.

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Featured

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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