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Basketball: 3×3 National Teams Jets Out Wednesday For 2019 AFCON

Published

4 years ago

November 5, 2019

…We are going for Gold-National Coordinator

Joel Ajayi

The delegations of 3×3 D’ Tiger, D ’Tigress National team and Under-18 team will on Wednesday jet out of Nigeria to Kampala, Uganda the venue of this year FIBA 3X3 Africa Cup AFCON slated for 8th -10th November 2019.

The tournament is expected to attract 12 teams in the Open Category of men and women and 12 teams of Under 18 players from all over Africa, making a total of 48 teams and 192 players.

Speaking at one of the team’s training inside MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, the national team coordinator of Nigeria 3X3 Basketball Frank Jutiboh said that the team will not leave any stone unturned to ensure Nigeria emerges a winner.

According to him, we have been in camp for over two months and we are ready to go, we are working very hard both in the morning and evening training session and we hope that it will be a very good outing.

“We are ready, I am very optimistic that we are going to do well; I can tell you that the entire player selected is outstanding both for male and female.”

As for National 3×3 team’s Head Coach Chris Acha, speaking ahead of the event, “we don’t just want to participate, we want to make a statement, we have been camp for 8weeks trying to put everything in place and as it’s now we are ready to go to represent Nigeria well.

“I scout for all these players and they are good enough to go.

“In the women category, we have Under-18 and Senior Team we have the best players in camp. We have selected the best shooters, best defenders.

“Last year’s male got silver, girls came fourth but this year it’s going to be a different story entirely because we have put everything in place.”

Also speaking the Male team’s Captain David Godwin said: “I think we are set and ready to deliver, we did not lacking anything, no injuries no challenges and we are highly motivated we are going for a gold medal.

“We not under pressure to deliver, we are playing as a team, we understood each other more, we are going to support each other on our strength and our weakness, we have been together for a while so, we are good to go.”

On her own, the Female team’s Captain Theresa Mac-Dangosu expressed: “We have been working hard for this competition and I believe we are going to do well. We have all it takes to make Nigerian proud, we have experienced coaches here and we have been to two months of rigorous training, we have improved in every area, so we are going out there to represent Nigeria very well.

“All we need is the support and prayer of every Nigerian for us to succeed.”

Nigeria will play in Group D Nigeria Mauritius, Uganda

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FG to Harness the Digital Economy to Empower Youth

Published

2 days ago

April 17, 2024

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Honourable Minister of State for Youth Development, Mr Ayodele Olawande has disclosed that the Federal Government is making efforts to harness the potentials of the digital economy in empowering the youth and creating sustainable jobs.

He made this disclosure in Abuja when he received the participants of the Senior Executive Course 46, 2024 of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos, Plateau State who were on study tour to the Ministry.

Mr Olawande said over 50% of the population below the age of 30 have a significant demographic advantage in the digital age.

“Our youths are tech-savvy, innovative and eager to contribute to the country’s economic growth. However, they face numerous challenges including limited access to quality education, skills training and job opportunities.

The digital economy offers a unique opportunity for Nigeria to leapfrog traditional development challenges. With the rise of e-commerce, digital payments and remote work”. “Our youths can assess global markets, skills training and job opportunities like never before,” he added.

According to the Minister, challenges hindering the growth of the digital economy in Nigeria must be addressed.
He explained that to overcome the challenges, the Ministry has implemented initiatives such as digital skills training programs for youths, focusing on areas like software development, data analytics and digital marketing especially in the NYSC.

This, he disclosed is alongside partnering with Galaxy Back Bone to improve infrastructure, Internet connectivity and alternative electricity supply as well as funding opportunities such as grants, loans and venture capital for startups of small businesses with launching of the National Youth Investment Fund.

The Honourable Minister who hinted that the Ministry’ s goal is to create an ecosystem that supports entrepreneurship and employment opportunities for youth stated: ” We recognise that sustainable job creation is critical to Nigeria ‘s economic growth and stability”

”I urge you all to join us in this journey to harness the potential of the digital economy for youth empowerment and sustainable job creation in Nigeria.”, he added.

Mr Olawande further said that the opportunities and challenges underscore the need for a collaborative effort from all stakeholders to harness the potential of the digital economy for sustainable development.

The Minister who observed that there is a gap between the Government and the young people expressed his heartfelt desire for the Youths of the nation to feel the Government. He opined that the country has the most intelligent youths in the world.

Earlier, the leader of the delegation from NIPSS, Barrister Nima Salman Mann, mni said they are in the Ministry to research, proffer solutions, recommendations and strategies to help Government chart its course for the the year, with the theme : ‘Digital Economy, Youth Empowerment and Sustainable Job Creation in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges and Opportunities’.

.She also added that Ministry of Youth Development is very germane to this year’s theme .” We are with the Ministry of Youth to listen to what you are doing to help the youth, how you are doing it, strategic plans and way forward as well as how we can use the digital economy to chart the goal for sustainable job creation,” she concluded.

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