Sports

Premier Lotto to maintain rehabilitated components of National Stadium for two years

Published

3 years ago

May 26, 2023

Foremost Gaming Company Premier Lotto is to maintain the three components it rehabilitated at the mainbowl of the National Stadium, Surulere, for two years.

This was revealed on Friday at the National Stadium during the handover of those rehabilitated facilities to the ministry of Sports.

Ken Nwankwo who represented the Chairman of Premier Lotto, Chief Kesington Adebutu, at the brief ceremony said it was with pleasure that that Premier Lotto handed back the facilities – a modern tartan track, new electronic scoreboard and a lush green natural grass football pitch.

Nwankwo stated that the outfit would ensure the three components the company worked on under the ministry’s adopt-a- pitch initiative would remain in good state in the next two year and the company would discuss further with the ministry on other things to be done in future.

Nwankwo said, “It was an easy decision for us to support the ministry because we are also working with the Nigeria Football Federation on a four year deal. We are happy to have done these at the stadium here in Surulere and we will do more in future.

“Our boss, Chief Adebutu, supervised the procurement because he wanted the very best quality in all things.”

In his own remarks, the Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare, thanked Premier Lotto and expressed delight over the three facilities delivered.

Dare said: “If the previous administration have been working on three or four different areas in the past, the stadium would have been fully back by now.

“We will play a novelty match here soon and an athletics event with few fans will also come up here. Government is a continuous process, we are happy to have started the revival of this great edifice and we expect the next administration to continue from there.”

Four former Nigerian athletics greats were on the track for a 50m race to ‘launch’ the newly laid tartan. They were Mary Onyali, Deji Aliu, Otonye Iworima and Femi Daramola.

Onyali said she was impressed with the new tracks which according to her is better than the old one.

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Sports

Flamingos’ Historic World Cup Feat Draws Musawa’s Commendation

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, has congratulated Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, following their historic triumph at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.

The Flamingos defeated Japan 2-1 in Saturday’s final at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat to claim Nigeria’s first title in the competition and make history as the first African nation to win the tournament.

Awawu Bashiru gave Nigeria the lead in the 39th minute before Oluebube Umejiaku extended the advantage two minutes after the restart. Japan’s Fuki Ito reduced the deficit in the 80th minute, but the Nigerian girls held on to secure a memorable victory.

In a congratulatory message was signed by Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Minister, Nneka Ikem Anibeze on Sunday in Abuja, Musawa described the achievement as a defining moment for Nigeria and a significant milestone for African women’s football, attributing the success to the team’s resilience, talent and determination.

“This is more than a trophy. It is a story of young Nigerian girls who refused to give up, who rose after defeat, and who carried the hopes of a continent to the top of the world,” she said.

The Minister noted that the Flamingos had broken new ground by becoming the first African team to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. Nigeria also became the first African country to win both the men’s and women’s U-17 World Cup titles.

The team further achieved another remarkable feat by becoming the first side in the competition’s history to lose its opening match and eventually emerge champions.

Despite suffering a 2-1 defeat to Poland in their opening group-stage encounter, the Flamingos recovered impressively, recording six consecutive victories to lift the trophy.

Musawa particularly praised Umejiaku, who claimed the tournament’s Golden Ball award as the best player, and Bashiru for their crucial contributions in the final.

She also commended the entire squad for their discipline, teamwork and determination throughout the competition.

According to her, the victory demonstrates the creativity, courage and excellence of Nigerian youths on the global stage.

The Minister reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to celebrating and promoting the achievements and inspiring stories of young Nigerians who continue to bring honour to the country.

“Our girls have shown the world what Nigeria is made of. We celebrate you today, and we will continue to stand with you,” she added.

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