Sports

Athletes’ Welfare, My Priority As a Minister- Dare

Published

3 years ago

July 8, 2022

The Minister of Youth and Sports Development Sunday Dare has reiterated that welfare of athletes has remained a priority for him since assuming office in 2019.

In a chat with pressmen during an interactive session in Abuja, Dare said, “Before I assumed office, I knew that welfare of athletes will always be key to their performances.

“This was why I immediately introduced the Athletes’ Welfare Scheme, where past athletes who brought glory to Nigeria in different sports were considered for reward. This did not exclude those who have transited to the great beyond like Late Rashidi Yekini, Samuel Okwaraji, Ali Jeje and others.

“We needed to recognise what they did for Nigeria and also further restate our commitment to the line in our National Anthem that says, ‘the labour of of our heroes past, shall never be in vain’.

“Again we celebrated and awarded 60 Sports Icons as a way of telling the heroes of tomorrow that their successes will also be remembered in the future and entrenched in the annals of our history.
“Furthermore, two of our athletes won medals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games and almost instantaneously, they were rewarded for their outstanding performances.

Nigeria’s best performance at the Olympics in 13 years was at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games courtesy of the medals won by Ese Brume and Blessing Oborodudu,” Dare explained.
Speaking on the increase in financial reward for paralympic athletes, the Sports Minister explained that the Ministry implemented a whooping 300% increase of their bonuses.

“Those who won Gold medals received $15,000, silver medal winners got $7,500 while bronze medalists got $5000 each. This was just another way of motivating and appreciating our athletes,” the Minister said.

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Sports

Area Councils get N720,000 Grant as Maiden FCT FA Women’s Tournament Kicks Off April 10

Published

2 hours ago

April 3, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Federal Capital Territory Football Association (FCT FA) has disbursed a total of N720,000 to Area Councils in preparation for the inaugural FCT FA Inter-Area Councils Women’s Tournament, which is set to kick off on April 10, 2025.

The funding was announced at a media briefing held at Area 10 in Abuja on Thursday, with each of the six participating Area Council teams receiving N120,000 to support their preparations for the competition. The six Area Councils in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)—Abaji, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, and Kwali—were all represented at the event.

In his address, FCT FA Chairman Alhaji Adam Mouktar Mohammed revealed that the tournament aligns with his administration’s vision to foster the development of women’s football and provide opportunities for young female players in the capital.

“This tournament is part of our commitment to providing a platform for the girl-child through football,” Mouktar said. “We believe this initiative will not only boost women’s participation in the sport but also change the perception and narrative of women’s football in the FCT and beyond.”

He also credited the initiative to Mrs. Pat Ayegba-Jubril, an FCT FA board member and head of the women’s football committee, commending her dedication to advancing the women’s game in the region.

“I must acknowledge Mrs. Ayegba-Jubril for her vision and commitment to the growth of women’s football in the FCT. Her dedication to this cause has been instrumental in bringing this initiative to life, and we are excited about the positive impact it will have on the future of the game,” Mouktar stated.

Mrs. Ayegba-Jubril emphasized the critical role of financial support in ensuring that the teams are adequately prepared for the tournament.

“This funding will assist the councils in getting their teams ready for the competition,” Ayegba-Jubril stated. “It’s time to elevate women’s football and ensure that girls at the grassroot level have access to the same opportunities as their counterparts globally. We are passionate about grassroot development and must encourage more girls to participate in sports.”

The FCT FA Inter-Area Council Women’s Tournament will feature six teams, divided into two groups, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semi-finals.

Besides Chairman Alhaji Adam Mouktar Mohammed and Mrs. Pat Ayegba-Jubril, the event was attended by several key figures, including former Nigeria star Femi Ajilore, 2nd Vice Chairman John Gabaya, and coach Patrick Bassey as members of the FCT FA board.

Signed
Uche Nwudoh Hillary
Head Media Committee
04/04/2025

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