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2024 World Relays Championship: Sports Minister Congratulates Team Nigeria on 2024 Olympics Qualification

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The Honourable Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh extends heartfelt congratulations to Team Nigeria athletes for their impressive performances so far at the World Relays Championship in the Bahamas, as they secured qualification for the 4×400 mixed relays and 4×400 men’s relay event at the 2024 Olympics Games in Paris.

Speaking on the remarkable achievement, Senator John Owan Enoh stated, “I am immensely proud of our Team Nigeria athletes for their exceptional performance at the World Relays Championship, which has secured two qualification tickets for the Olympic Games already. Their dedication, determination, and resilience have brought honor to our nation, and I congratulate them on this milestone.”

The Nigerian men’s 4x400m quartet of Dubem Nwachukwu, Dubem Amene, Sikiru Adeyemi, and Chidi Okezie showcased their prowess on the track, clocking a remarkable time of 3:01.70 to secure qualification for the Olympic Games. This achievement marks the fastest time by a Nigerian male 4x400m team since the Bronze-winning team of James Godday, Musa Audu, Saul Weigopwa, and Enefiok Udo-Obong at the Athens 2004 Olympics.

In the mixed 4x400m relay event, Team Nigeria’s quartet of Samuel Ogazi, Ella Onojuvwevwo, Chidi Okezie, and Esther Elo Joseph delivered an impressive performance, finishing second in their heat with a time of 3:13.79. This outstanding performance secured their spot at the Olympics for the second consecutive time.

Senator John Owan Enoh emphasized the importance of continued hard work and perseverance as Team Nigeria athletes aim for further Olympic qualification tickets in their remaining events. He expressed confidence in their abilities and encouraged them to strive for excellence as they represent Nigeria on the global stage.

As Team Nigeria celebrates this momentous achievement, Senator John Owan Enoh reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to supporting and empowering Nigerian athletes to excel in their respective sports, and be in the best shape towards the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

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Stakeholders Ought to Project Nigerian Sports in Positive Light – NSC DG Olopade

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…Says projecting positive image is key to attracting and sustaining investments

The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, has charged stakeholders in the sports sector to consistently project Nigerian sports in a positive light to attract the necessary funding and drive sustainable growth in the industry.

Speaking at the Sports Africa Investment Summit (SAIS), co-organized by the NSC and Sports Nigeria in Lagos, Olopade emphasized that the perception of Nigeria’s sports industry plays a crucial role in securing private-sector investment.

“Like international best practices, you don’t de-market a product you intend to take to the market because the perception of the product out there matters a lot.”

“As someone who has worked in the private sector for more than two decades, I understand why our sports have not attracted optimal private-sector investment. This is why, at the NSC, we are working to change the narrative with our Reset, Rethink, and Relaunch campaign,” he stated.

Olopade pointed out that top global sports institutions have thrived because they collectively built a positive image over time, ensuring strong brand perception among all stakeholders.

As a panelist at the Summit’s breakout session, Olopade also addressed the capacity gaps in corporate governance, administration, and management within Nigeria’s sports federations. He outlined key reforms introduced by the NSC under the leadership of Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko, particularly in corporate governance structures.

“And I am glad to say we are already getting positive results from this because in Rugby where they now have a COO, they are already on the verge of security two Sponsorships and the President of the Nigeria Badminton Federation, Francis Obih, has just informed me of how impactful their new COO, Blessing Ekwe, was to the team at the recently finished All Africa Badminton Championship in Cameroon.”

Additionally, Olopade revealed plans to introduce dedicated Corporate Communications Units across all sports federations to enhance information management and strategic dissemination.

“Now, plans are underway to ensure all the sports federations have corporate communications teams for cutting-edge information management and dissemination,” he concluded.

The NSC’s commitment to reshaping Nigerian sports through strategic branding, governance reforms, and private-sector engagement continues to set a new course for the future of the industry.

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