Sports

All set for Archery symposium as SWAN FCT week kicks off

Published

4 years ago

November 23, 2020

Respected members of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) FCT chapter will on Tuesday, November 24, refresh their knowledge on Archery, being one of the recently introduced sports in Nigeria.

In a press statement issued by the Secretary, SWAN FCT Ikenna Okonkwo on Monday in Abuja.

The workshop which kicks off 11.30 am, will take place inside the female hockey pitch (adjacent NIS arena), package B of Moshood Abiola National stadium Abuja.

Already, sports Journalists within the nation’s capital have expressed their willingness to fully participate.

A veteran sports journalist and one of the oldest SWAN members, Mr Asueliemen Osasuyi of the Nigerian Pilot, who was first to put a phone call across to the secretariat early Monday morning was optimistic that the training is worth the wait.

“Archery is not one of the popular sports like football, basketball, athletics, handball in Nigeria, but it has a lot of prospects in the country, being an Olympic sport.

In their separate remarks, a veteran broadcaster Kelechi Onwudiwe of Beat/Classic FM and renowned sports writer Foluso Alade of Gongnews.com were of the view that Archery if well-publicized would spur many hidden potentials to emerge across Nigeria.

President of Nigeria Archery Federation Alhaji Mohammed Baba Abdullahi assured that the federation is set to deploy their equipment for the all-important training sessions.

Alhaji Abdullahi who is also the chairman of FCT Archery Association said, “We are delighted to partner with sport writers at this time. We are aware of the crucial role they play in grassroots and elite sports development.

Archery is a skill or sporting game that involves the practice or skill of using a bow to shoot/propel arrows. It is becoming one of the interesting competitive games and recreational activities in the country and is gradually accelerating to a higher level just as when football started in Nigeria.

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Sports

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

Published

22 hours ago

February 20, 2025

The Gleamer

…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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