Sports
Uniport to honour Owumi with Excellence in Service Award
The Chief Operating Officer of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Davidson Owumi is among eminent persons and organisations to be conferred the University of Port Harcourt Excellence in Service Award for their remarkable contributions to the institutions growth.
The award presentation is part of the events marking the 50th anniversary of the school and will be held on Thursday, July 24, at the CBN Centre of Excellence inside the university.
A letter signed by the Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Owunari Abraham Georgewill, read, “as part of the University of Port Harcourt 50th anniversary, we are pleased to recognise and honour individuals and institutions whose invaluable support has significantly contributed to our growth and success over the years”.
Owumi, an alumni of the second generation federal university, was a prominent member of the school’s football team that won honours in the 1980s.
The Vice Chancellor also went on to state in the letter that “it is with immense pleasure that I inform you that you have been selected to receive the Excellence in Service Award for your outstanding contributions to the university.
“This award is a testament to the enduring partnership and impact you have made in advancing our mission of excellence in education, research, and community service.”
All the award recipients are to be presented the award at the Pro-Chancellor’s dinner in the evening of Thursday, July 24.
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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