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Chioma Ajunwa Applauds Sports Minister For Remembering Ex Internationals

Published

5 years ago

May 19, 2020

Admin

Nigerian’s first and only individual Olympic Gold Medalist, Chioma Ajunwa-Opara has poured out great encomium on the Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Sunday Dare for remembering and providing soccuor to the mothers of late ex internationals in the country.

The commendation was made known on Tuesday in a press Statement issued by the Media Manager Chioma Ajunwa (MON. ACP) Comrade Amaechi Agbo in Abuja

Chioma Ajunwa-Opara who is an Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP commended the minister for his foresightedness in reaching out to the aged mothers of late football icons and legends Sam Okwaraji and Rashidi Yekini.

The Minister of Youths and Sports Development, few days ago reached out to the ex internationals’ mothers and offered them cash gifts and food items.

The Minister, on Wednesday, May 6th kicked off the campaign to reach out to these aged mothers when he sent representatives to late Rashidi Yekini’s mother, Alhaja Sikiratu, offered her Ramadan gifts of N50,000 and also put her on a monthly financial support of N10,000.

Yekini is considered Nigeria’s football legend after scoring the country’s first ever World Cup goal in 1994 World Cup fiesta, and also being the highest goalscorer in the country with 37 goals and winning the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations where he also went home with the Most Valuable Player accolade.

Four days later, the minister extended the gesture to reach late Samuel Okwaraji’s mother, Mrs Janet Okwaraji.

The minister who was also represented made a presentation of N50,000 as well as food items such as rice, semovita and beverages to the aged mother of Samuel Okwaraji.

Samuel Okwaraji died on August 12, 1989 while playing a World Cup qualifying match against Angola at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

Not yet done, the Minister on May 11th visited the mother of late Nigerian athlete, Sunday Bada, Mrs Fumilayo Bada.

Sunday Bada was a member of the 4×400 relay team that won silver for Nigeria at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.

During the visit, the Minister presented N50,000 to Bada’s mother with some food items and beverages.

Reacting to these gestures, the First Black woman Olympic Gold medal winner commended the minister for his great strides and encouraged him not to lose track of best efforts at supporting past legends and heroes of Nigeria sports and further encouraging the up and coming for maximum perfo.

“I have said it before that the emergence of the current Honourable Minister of Sports, Mr Sunday Dare at this point in time in our sports is Messianic.

“His antecedents in the past 8 months have left no one in doubt as to his mission, trajection and vision for sports in Nigeria.

“Apart from remembering the ex internationals in the country, he has also engaged them along with bringing the private sector into sports management with a view to repositioning sports in Nigeria.

“The Minister reaching out to the families of these former sports men in the country is not only commendable but also the right way to go. When you give the retired or dead athletes desired National recognition for their service to our Motherland, you are not only encouraging the active athletes to put in their best, you are also indirectly motivating other young Nigerians on the need to take on and build a career in sports.

“The Minister has done well by bringing in everybody on board. Of course he cannot do everything at once but from what he has done so far, I have no doubt that in the near future our sports will return to its years of glory. Our men and women athletes will be given a sense of belonging and their patriotic disposition will lead to greater laurels in the country,” the former Super Falcons player said.

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Nigeria’s Historic Bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games: A Call for National and Global Support

Published

6 days ago

September 30, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

Nigeria is poised to make history as it seeks to host the Centenary Commonwealth Games in 2030, a monumental opportunity that promises to transform the nation’s economy, infrastructure, and global standing.

More than a sporting spectacle, the Games would serve as a catalyst for development across multiple sectors, leaving behind a legacy of national pride and sustainable growth.

The benefits of hosting the Games extend far beyond the sports arena. Nigeria stands to gain both empirical and non-empirical advantages, with direct, indirect, and induced impacts that will touch every corner of society. Infrastructural development will take center stage, with new facilities such as indoor sports halls, conference centers, and improved road networks reshaping urban landscapes while strengthening the nation’s capacity to host future international events.

Economic growth is another significant dividend. Over 10,000 jobs are expected to be created, spanning construction, facility management, event planning, and tourism services.

The hospitality industry will undergo major improvements as hotels and resorts are upgraded to meet international standards, while local restaurants, lounges, and tourist attractions will see a surge in patronage from international visitors. Small and medium enterprises, particularly in the transport, finance, and food service sectors, will become some of the greatest beneficiaries, as the Games generate new demand and expand opportunities for local businesses.
The Commonwealth Games will also accelerate the growth of Nigeria’s sports industry.

Investments in training facilities, coaching, and talent development will inspire a new generation of athletes, ensuring long-term benefits that extend beyond 2030, a major focus of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
At the same time, the process of preparing for the Games will create opportunities for Nigerians to learn new crafts, acquire technical skills, and engage in global-standard event management, thereby strengthening human capacity and innovation across industries.

Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the Nigeria Sports Commission, and Hon. Bukola Olopade, the Director General, have been widely recognized for their tireless and visionary leadership in repositioning Nigeria’s sporting sector.

Their commitment to facilitating infrastructural development and strengthening grassroots sports development has laid the foundation for Nigeria’s bold bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Under their leadership, the NSC is fostering strategic partnerships and driving innovation in sports administration, they have demonstrated the nation’s readiness to stage an event of such global magnitude.

Beyond the tangible gains, the hosting of the 2030 Commonwealth Games carries profound symbolic value. It would be a moment of unity and pride, a chance for Nigeria to showcase its cultural richness, resilience, and excellence to the world.
As a centenary edition, the Games would stand as a historic milestone not just for the Commonwealth but for Nigeria itself, cementing its place on the global stage as a capable, ambitious, and forward-looking nation.

The gains from hosting the Commonwealth Games can never be undermined or overemphasized. This is Nigeria’s time to step forward and show the world our resilience, and excellence. We call on every Nigerian, across sectors and communities, to support this noble aspiration.

Nigeria’s pursuit of the 2030 Commonwealth Games is a vision for transformation, a blueprint for national development, and a legacy project that will inspire generations to come.

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