Sports
Dare Bags NOC’s Outstanding Youth and Sports Minister Award
The Sports and Youth Development Minister Sunday Dare has received an award for his contributions to sports development in Nigeria and the Olympic movement.
The Outstanding Youth and Sports Minister Award was presented to Dare by the Executive Board of the Nigeria Olympic Committee(NOC) led by its President, Engineer Habu Gumel in Abuja on Wednesday.
Gumel highlighted “the numerous and outstanding achievements as the captain of Nigerian sports and Minister of Youth and Sports Development” to include the emergence of the National Sports Industry Policy(NSIP), Adopt initiative, revamping of the Nigeria Professional Football League(NPFL), payment of monthly stipends to the families of departed sports icons as well as providing financial support to ailing former and active athletes.
According to the NOC President, “another remarkable legacy was the delivery of the Headquarters and Secretariat of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa(ANOCA) by the Federal Government of Nigeria which was commissioned by the President of the International Olympic Committee(IOC), Dr Thomas Bach.”
In his response, the Minister attributed the successes he recorded to the support he received from the sports federations because of their direct dealings with the athletes.
Dare said, “I salute the resilience of the sports federations, their sacrifices and work in developing sports in Nigeria deserve commendation. In spite of all the challenges of funding, they still turn up for international competitions thereby giving the athletes the needed exposure and training required to compete at the elite level and you all know that without these athletes, nothing is possible in sports. There will be no achievements.”
The Sports Minister also identified funding as one of the biggest challenges of sports development in Nigeria, a problem, he believes the newly approved National Sports Industry Policy(NSIP) will alleviate.
“The incentives outlined in the Sports as Business Policy have been approved and will be announced soon. The technical committee has put finishing touches to the document and it will become fully operational soon.
“This will drive private sector support for sports and there will be a massive turn around as the funding issues will be confronted headlong.
‘In the last four years, Sports moved from being a third tier ministry to being a first tier one. Apart from this, under the Federal Government’s National Development Plan(NDP), sports will receive N80 billion for the next four years. A plan is in place to make sure a percentage of this fund goes directly to the sports federations.
“Just a few weeks back, the Federal Government approved N2.4 billon for a High Performance Centre to be established inside the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja and before then, there is the Anti Doping Centre to be established in Nsukka, Enugu State.”
He commended the Nigeria Olympic Committee(NOC) for offering scholarships to many Nigerian athletes, ensuring they combine their participation in sports with education.
Speaking earlier at the event, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Sports and Youth Development, Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar thanked the Minister for his wonderful performance in office, wishing him well in his future endeavours while calling for stronger cooperation with the Olympic family.
Sports
IMC Seals Super Six TV Rights Deal With Super Sports
The Interim Management Committee (IMC), which is charged with the responsibility of organizing the 2022/23 the Abridged Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has struck a deal to put all matches in the upcoming Super Six in Lagos on television.
The deal with Supersport a stable of Multichoice, an South Africa-based cable satellite television giants, is the latest heartwarming news coming from the IMC, which has in less than 12 months done a lot to revive the fortunes of the once moribund league.
Speaking with ckdmedia.ng immediately after the deal was sealed, IMC Chairman, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye could not hide his joy at the landmark achievement.
We have just concluded with Superport to cover the Super 6, it is a cheering news. The players will get an International recognition again, all the matches will be televised live and that will held a great deal in showcasing our league not just in Sub-Saharan Africa, but the globe at large”, the IMC boss said.
He added that televising the matches will also ensure better and fair officiating, as the referees would be put on their toes and challenged to give their very best in terms of officiating, better than what they did in the regular season.
“It was not easy to reach an agreement, but we did all we could. We went forth and back and we finally came to an agreement”.
It is the hope of the IMC that after all these efforts, the best team wins the league, and the country will have worthy representatives in the two CAF organized Inter-Club Championships, next season.
Bendel Insurance of Benin, Remo Stars of Ikenne, Enyimba of Aba from Group A; and the Pool B trio of Rivers United (the holders), Lobi Stars of Makurdi, and Sunshine Stars of Akure are the six teams to feature at the Super Six; from July 3rd, 2023 at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, in Onikan Lagos
-
Featured4 years agoLampard Names New Chelsea Manager
-
Featured3 years agoFG To Extends Lockdown In FCT, Lagos Ogun states For 7days
-
Featured4 years agoNYSC Dismisses Report Of DG’s Plan To Islamize Benue Orientation Camp
-
Featured3 years agoChildren Custody: Court Adjourns Mike Ezuruonye, Wife’s Case To April 7
-
Featured2 years agoTransfer Saga: How Mikel Obi Refused to compensate me After I Linked Him Worth $4m Deal In Kuwait SC – Okafor
-
Sports7 months agoTINUBU LAMBAST DELE MOMODU
-
Featured4 years agoBoard urges FG to establish one-stop rehabilitation centres in 6 geopolitical zones
-
Sports11 months agoBREAKING: Pinnick Attacks Buhari, Sports Minister Over 3rd Term Ambition
