Sports

FCT Golf association targets grassroots growth, Olympic success

Published

5 months ago

January 21, 2025

The FCT Golf Association has unveiled ambitious plans to promote golf at the grassroots level while pursuing Olympic dreams for Nigeria.

Speaking to journalists, the association’s chairman, Mr. Akabong Enebong, expressed pride in the achievements of Nigerian golfers and reiterated the group’s commitment to further growth.

“Our athletes in golf have been doing exceptionally well, and as an association, we aim to help them achieve even greater success at the next National Sports Festival,” he said.

Akabong emphasized the importance of grassroots development, revealing partnerships with the FCT Education Board to establish golf academies and ranges in five schools, including those in Tundun Wada, Gwarinpa, and Garshi. “This initiative will not only develop future golfers but also introduce young students to the sport,” he explained.

The association also announced a partnership with former Super Eagles striker Osaze Odemwingie, who transitioned to professional golf in 2019. After graduating from the Professional Golfers Association’s school in 2024, Odemwingie is focused on bringing Nigeria to the global golf stage.

“We’re thrilled to collaborate with Osaze, who will play a key role in grooming young golfers for the Olympics. This partnership reflects our belief in the potential of Nigerian youths,” Akabong added.

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Sports

NLO’s Shola Ogunowo Earns Praise for Driving Grassroots Football and Exemplifying Integrity

Published

28 mins ago

June 7, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Nigerian football community has lauded Mr. Shola Ogunowo, Chief Operating Officer of the Nationwide League One (NLO), for his unwavering commitment to integrity and the development of grassroots football, earning him widespread respect and admiration across the sporting landscape.

In a statement released in Abuja and signed by Okechukwu Okebugwu, Mr. Ogunowo was praised as a transformative leader who has redefined the ethics and standards of football administration at the grassroots level. According to the release, Ogunowo has emerged as a “leading figure in the fight against match-fixing, bribery, and all forms of corruption” that have plagued the lower tiers of Nigerian football for decades.

Through consistent enforcement of transparency, fairness, and accountability, Mr. Ogunowo is steering the NLO toward becoming a credible platform where talent can be discovered and nurtured based on merit, rather than manipulation or favoritism.

“In an environment where shortcuts and compromises are all too common, Shola Ogunowo has remained a pillar of integrity,” Okebugwu stated. “He is restoring credibility to grassroots football by ensuring that fair play, discipline, and professionalism are non-negotiable.”

Since taking over as COO, Ogunowo has spearheaded a number of structural reforms aimed at instilling discipline and operational excellence among participating clubs. These include stricter licensing requirements, performance audits, and compliance monitoring to ensure clubs uphold the league’s code of conduct. His administration has also emphasized youth development, with a renewed focus on coaching education and player welfare.

The result is a reinvigorated Nationwide League One that is beginning to attract renewed attention from fans, corporate sponsors, and local communities. Observers say Ogunowo’s leadership is helping reshape perceptions of grassroots football—not just as a stepping stone to the elite leagues, but as a vital foundation for the future of Nigerian football.

“His leadership is not only impacting the pitch—it’s rebuilding trust, creating real value, and setting a good standard for sports administration in Nigeria,” Okebugwu concluded.

As the NLO season progresses, many stakeholders believe that with figures like Shola Ogunowo at the helm, the future of grassroots football in Nigeria is not only secure, but promising.

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