Sports

From Academia to the Frontlines of Journalism: Kola Daniel’s Inspiring Journey

Published

7 hours ago

February 15, 2026

Joel Ajayi
Kola Daniel, Special Assistant on Media to the Director-General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Honourable Bukola Olopade, has revealed why he resigned from his lecturing position at the University of Abuja to pursue a career in journalism.

In an exclusive interview with Sports247, Daniel admitted he made the bold move despite uncertainty about what lay ahead. His passion for writing and broadcasting, he said, was the driving force behind the decision—even though it meant taking a significant pay cut.

“Before my story began as a journalist, I was a lecturer at the University of Abuja, but I left lecturing because of my love for media activities,” he recalled.“I left my job as a lecturer, where I was earning N126,000 a month, to join Frank Ilaboya as a freelance journalist with a slashed salary.”

Despite the financial sacrifice, Daniel said he had a strong conviction that he would succeed in media.

“I just had a strong conviction that I was going to make it big with journalism. I knew that I had the right voice quality for broadcasting on radio, which I held onto strongly. My writing skills then came into play when I was working with Samm Audu as a foremost online journalist in Nigeria,” he added.

The astute journalist expressed gratitude to God for how far he’s come, noting that it was only a few years after launching his own online platform that former Sports Minister, Chief Sunday Dare, offered him his first civil service appointment as a media aide.

“When I became the head of sports at ITV, I opened my own outfit, which I called CKD Media.

That was what I was doing until that fateful day on August 6th, 2019, when Chief Sunday Dare called me. I was surprised that the Minister of Sports was calling me, and he shocked me further by revealing that he had appointed me as his Special Assistant on Media.”

Daniel went on to work with subsequent sports ministers, including Senator John Owan Enoh and current NSC Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, before being redeployed to Honourable Olopade’s office.

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Sports

2026 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon: Nilayo Sets Record Straight on 10KM Medal Distribution

Published

7 hours ago

February 15, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

Nilayo Sports Management Limited extends its deepest appreciation to the tens of thousands of runners who participated in the 2026 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon. We remain immensely proud of every athlete’s determination and the vibrant spirit that continues to make this marathon a defining moment for Lagos and Nigeria.

However, we acknowledge with sincere concern that during medal distribution following the
10KM race category, an unexpected and dangerous crowd surge occurred at the 10KM medal collection point.

In the interest of protecting the safety of our runners, volunteers, and staff, medal issuance was temporarily suspended while the situation was brought under control. This decision was taken solely as a safety precaution to prevent potential injuries.

Most importantly, our hearts go out to everyone who was affected by the surge or experienced distress during this period. We understand the excitement and emotion that come with crossing the finish line, and we deeply regret any anxiety, discomfort, or inconvenience caused.

We send our heartfelt wishes to all impacted participants and sincerely hope everyone remains safe and well.

We also observed a significant influx of individuals arriving at the 10KM finish area and attempting to access medals even before the 10KM race had officially commenced. In addition, there were cases of unauthorized participants, including individuals using running bibs from their previous marathon editions that were not issued for the 2026 race.

The presence of this category of illegal runners, and their desperation to obtain medals, significantly intensified congestion and contributed massively to the surge that disrupted the seamless medal collection process.

In response, we have activated robust plans for an immediate and orderly medal re-distribution exercise. In the coming days, medals will be made available for collection by verified runners.

To ensure fairness and proper control, all runners must present their original race bib at designated collection points, where strict queuing protocols, enhanced volunteer presence, and reinforced security measures will be in place.

A comprehensive schedule detailing dates, times, and the exact collection venue will be communicated across all official marathon channels shortly.

Looking ahead, we are implementing additional safeguards, including increased numbers of trained volunteers, controlled queuing barriers at distribution points, and strengthened coordination with security agencies to ensure smoother and safer post-race processes.

An immediate internal review of the medal distribution framework is already underway, and we are fully committed to improving our crowd management systems.We sincerely thank the Lagos State Government for its continued partnership and steadfast support in making the marathon a growing legacy event. We also apologise unreservedly to actual 10KM runners who were inconvenienced, and reaffirm our commitment to resolving all outstanding medal collection concerns promptly, transparently, and fairly.

We deeply value the passion and trust of our running community. Our assurance remains firm that every deserving finisher will receive their medal after due verification, and we will continue to strengthen our processes to ensure that the finish-line experience remains safe, orderly, and truly celebratory for all.

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