Sports
Dollar rain as NSC DG Bukola Olopade splashes financial incentives on Nigerian Weightlifters in Mauritius
Joel Ajayi
Nigerian Contingents at the 2025 Africa Weightlifting Championship in Mauritius have received a big financial boost after the Director General of the National Sports Commission, NSC, Hon Bukola Olopade gave a personal donation of the sum of Three Thousand, Eight Hundred Dollars ( 3800 Dollars ) to Athletes and officials of the team.
The DG who is currently in Moka, Mauritius, to boost the team’s morals at the championship gave the donation when he held a meeting with the Team and officials of the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation on Wednesday.
” I bring you greetings from the Chairman of the Commission Mallam Shehu Dikko, who is the father of Sports in Nigeria”.
” He actually told me that I should remind you that weightlifting is part of the sport that as a country, we have a competitive edge as far as Africa and the World is concerned, so you must try to win a lot of medals here in Mauritius”.
” Therefore my slogan for you here in Mauritius is, more Gold , more money.As you are winning, you are getting your alert”.
” I am also glad to inform you all that four of you have been shortlisted into the A Category of the Elite Programme of the Elite Athletes and Podium Board of the Commission and will get 20,000 Dollars each as your annual training grants. And by next week, the four of you will get 5000 Dollars each as part of your training Grants installment”.
” Your welfare is very paramount to us and it is a core mandate of the Commission under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to prioritise the welfare and well being of our Elite Athletes”.
” With this, you guys can now concentrate on your preparations without any distractions for the Commonwealth Games, the World Championship and ultimately the Olympic Games”, he concluded.
Nigeria currently has a contingent of six Athletes, four female and two male, taking part at the 2025 Africa Weightlifting Championship in Moka, Mauritius.
Sports
FCT FA Board Member Urges Grassroots Reform, Hopeful For Super Eagles World Cup Qualification
Legal Practitioner And Administrator Barr Bucknor Threatens To Petition FCT Minister Over Abandoned Stadiums
Despite Nigeria’s precarious position in the race for a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Barrister Babatunde Burknor, a board member of the FCT Football Association (FA), remains hopeful that the Super Eagles can still secure qualification.
Nigeria currently sits third in their qualification group with 11 points from 8 matches, trailing Benin Republic and South Africa, who both lead with 14 points. Yet Burknor, a seasoned football administrator and grassroots sports advocate, believes all is not lost.
In a recent interview made available to BSN Sports, Burknor said: “Nigeria’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup may appear almost impossible, but that doesn’t mean it is out of reach. The situation is tough, yes, but looking at the quality of players in our squad, I still believe we can make it.”
He added that unexpected results from other group rivals could work in Nigeria’s favour.
“Football is unpredictable. There is still a chance that South Africa, Benin Republic, or Rwanda could drop points. If we win our remaining two games, we still stand a chance. Sometimes football reflects life where the strong may fall while the seemingly weak stand tall.”
Calls for Grassroots Reform in the FCT
Beyond national team concerns, Burknor also used the opportunity to address the state of sports development in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), urging the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to take concrete action to revamp local infrastructure.
“We have deep-rooted problems when it comes to grassroots sports. The major issue is a lack of funding and commitment from those charged with driving development at that level,” he said.
Burknor lamented the disappearance of once-thriving youth competitions like the Chairman’s Cup, Principal’s Cup, and Shell Cup, stating that such events played a crucial role in identifying and nurturing young talent.
“It’s disheartening that these programs are no longer active. Development is impossible without facilities, yet we lack even basic training grounds.”
The legal luminary revealed that he personally upgraded the sports facility at a government secondary school in his area to serve as a makeshift training centre, due to the absence of a functioning local stadium.
He is currently drafting a petition to Minister Wike, over abandoned stadiums in FCT, urging a comprehensive audit of officials responsible for sports development across the six Area Councils of the FCT.
Progress in Gwagwalada Football Development
As Vice Chairman of the Gwagwalada Football Council, Burknor highlighted the success of the Gwagwalada Football League, which has become a model for other Area Councils.
“In just two years, we’ve turned the Gwagwalada Football League into a success story. Several players from the league have already secured contracts in Europe. This shows what can be achieved with vision and consistency.”
Barrister Burknor, emphasized that grassroots football holds the key to Nigeria’s long-term football success and must be taken seriously.
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