Sports

Fish Out More Young Players, Sports Minister Charges Victorious Scrabble Team

Published

3 years ago

May 23, 2022

Joel Ajayi

Minister of youth and sports development Sunday Dare, has charged the victorious Nigeria scrabble team to go out there and fish out more young players and nurture them to podium.

He gave this charge on Monday at a welcome reception for the team Nigeria who came out victorious at the just concluded West African Tourney in Kumasi in Ghana.

Nigeria team left stone unturned to ensure 9 out 10 prizes won by Nigeria scrabble team.

While speaking Sports Minister Dare, said scrabble is an important game because it needs determination, discipline as well as the right frame of mind and if anyone excels in scrabble he or she can excel in any walk of life.

“Based on this as a government, we want to renew our support and commitment toward the growth and development of the games. Tell us your programs and we will ensure the needed support.

“I want to charge the scrabble federation to go out there and find more young Scrabble players and mentor them to place Nigeria on the path of more success.”

He however asked the federation to provide complete data of performance of the team for record purposes.

In his own addresses, the president of Scrabble Federation of Nigeria Oloboatoke Aka thanked the minister and opined that the minister’s world of encouragement and support propel the team to victory.

“Before we travel to Ghana, you charge us to go for victory and today your world of encouragement propel us to fantastic victory.

“Also, the victory today, was as a result of hard work, almost every month we had championship this indeed help us I can tell you today, Nigeria is best scrabble team in the whole world”

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Sports

NSC DG, Olopade Visits Team Nigeria in Camp Ahead of All-African Senior Badminton Championship

Published

1 hour ago

February 5, 2025

The Gleamer

…Says NSC is determined to encourage all Sports Federations
Joel Ajayi

The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, has revealed that the Commission’s leadership is determined to support and encourage all sports federations to excel.

The 2025 edition of the All-African Senior Badminton Championship is set to take place from February 10th to 16th in Douala, Cameroon. Team Nigeria, consisting of 10 players—5 males and 5 females—will compete in the Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles, Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles, and Mixed Doubles categories. The men’s team includes Nigeria’s number one player, Anuoluwapo Opeyori.

Olopade visited the team’s camp in Abuja on Wednesday to encourage them and bid the Nigerian Badminton Team farewell ahead of their participation in the championship. He extended a goodwill message from the NSC Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, assuring the team of the Commission’s support and encouraging them to make the country proud.

He expressed confidence in the team, urging them to perform at their best. “My message was very clear. I conveyed the message from the chairman of the sports commission, Malam Shehu Dikko, and it was a clear one: we are determined to continue supporting all sports,” Olopade said.

“Moreover, when you look at the development and growth of Nigerian badminton, it is our responsibility, as leaders of the sports commission, to ensure that these athletes are encouraged to keep up the good work they have been doing for the country. They are the defending champions, and I’m not just here to encourage them. I have come to show our love, our support, and to ensure they are ready. They are well taken care of, and the confidence for them to excel is there. It’s all up to them to do well.”

In his remarks, the President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria, Francis Orbi, stated that the Nigerian team is ready for the championships and that all the players understand the importance of the tournament.

“I’m confident that they will perform very well. We have a lot of potential, and the Director General’s visit to encourage the players will further boost their courage and determination. We are grateful for that.”

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s badminton star, Anuoluwapo Opeyori, is aiming for a consecutive title at the 2025 All-African Senior Badminton Championship in Douala, Cameroon. Opeyori won the singles event last year and is now targeting another title in Cameroon.

At the previous edition of the tournament in Cairo, Nigeria won one gold, two silver, and four bronze medals.

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