Sports

FCT FA Vows To Improve On League, develop infrastructure, Coach others

Published

2 years ago

October 1, 2024

….Approve promotion of team to division 1

Joel Ajayi
Chairman of Federal Capital Territory Football Association Adams Mouktar Mohammed has restated its commitment toward the fas-tracking of better infrastructure, as well as coach and referee development in the six Area councils of the city that will further bring more growth to football.

He stated this on Monday in Abuja during FCT FA 2024 Annual General Meeting which was held at the Old Parade Ground, Area 10 in Abuja, where the AGM rectified and approved the promotion of teams from the FCT League division 2 to 1 in the 2024 league season.
Speaking, the soft-spoken FA Chairman, Mourktar said that the yearly annual congress is to call the body that voted us in, so that we lay, bear our activities, our responsibilities, our challenges, and then take very important decisions for the year coming and to seek their approval.

According to him, we had a very successful meeting, a marathon meeting, we had a board meeting, it came into we have been able to take very important key decisions, and also to tell them activities and to seek their approval, and also for me to inform them that I will be going for the NFF congress in Asaba in a few days, and to see if they have any questions or contributions.

“We intend to try and develop more infrastructure across other area councils. And then we intend to also develop more coaches and referees so that we leave a legacy that is befitting of the capital of Nigeria.

“We intend to come up with a kids league. And also we intend to improve on the administration of academies and problems across disputes on players.”

He listed some of FCT FA achievements so far: Well, “there’s been some incredible feats this year. For the first time in FCT history, our female team Naija Rattel was in the final in Lagos, even though they did not win, it was the first and it was a huge development for female football, and also we had some historic matches brought to the FCT Federation Cup.

“Our new Bwari Stadium, which was historic, because typically all the matches are played in the city center, and part of our promises we made coming into office is to take grassroots football development to the area councils, which we achieved.

“And also we had one of the private investors in the sporting supreme, investing hundreds of millions, they nearly made it to the Premier League. Unfortunately, they lost the playoffs in Enugu, so we’re proud of a lot of achievements we’ve enjoyed in the FCT, despite the challenging times we face. Going forward, we intend to make our league better.”

However, some of the resolutions of the FCT FA after her 2024 Annual General Meeting include approval of the promotion of teams from the FCT League division 2 to 1 in the 2024 league season.

The Board also appreciated the Honourable Minister FCT, the FCT Sports Council, and the good people of FCT for their continuous support, collaboration, and guidance in the affairs and operation of their football activities.

The AGM hailed the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) under Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau for providing excellent leadership and unfettered ground for the activities of the FCT Football Association.

The AGM charged her marketing committee to expedite action on securing sponsors/partners for the activities of the FCT Football Association.

Also, the bye-election into the office of the 1st Vice Chairman is currently vacant, while charging the electoral committee to come up with modalities to actualize this in the shortest possible time.

The highest decision-making organ in football matters in FCT passed a vote of explicit confidence on the Board of the FCT Football Association for the good work they’re doing and for successfully repositioning the Association.

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News

Ringo Sport Club, National Parks Service Team Up to Promote Eco-Tourism, Combat Climate Change

Published

3 hours ago

October 24, 2026

The Gleamer

By Joel Ajayi

The Ringo Sport Club–Nigeria and the National Park Service (NPS) have begun moves to strengthen collaboration on eco-tourism promotion, environmental protection and climate change mitigation ahead of the maiden Nigerian Para-Military Ringo Sport Tournament (NIPAMRIST) 2026.

The National President of Ringo Sport Club–Nigeria and Chairman of the National Inter-Agency Organising Committee (NIAOC) of NIPAMRIST, Malam Ahmed Mohammed Sule, led a delegation on a courtesy visit to the Conservator-General of the National Park Service, Dr Ibrahim Musa Goni, at the Service’s headquarters in Abuja.

The visit was part of ongoing stakeholder engagements to secure the participation of personnel from para-military agencies and explore areas of cooperation ahead of the three-day tournament scheduled for November 19 to 21, 2026, at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

Sule said the tournament was designed to bring together officers and personnel of Nigeria’s para-military agencies to compete for honours while promoting inter-agency cooperation, national unity, physical fitness and general well-being.

He explained that the engagement with the National Park Service was aimed at strengthening preparations for the inaugural competition and building a lasting partnership that would extend beyond sports.

According to him, the National Park Service is a strategic partner in advancing the tournament’s objectives, particularly through the integration of sports and tourism to showcase Nigeria’s natural attractions and encourage environmental awareness.

Sule disclosed that the Service had registered for the tournament and that some of its personnel had benefited from the intensive Ringo sport training programme organised by the club.

He urged the Conservator-General to mobilise more personnel for the competition, stressing that adequate preparation and mass participation would contribute to the success of the tournament.

The Ringo Sport Club president added that NIPAMRIST offered an opportunity to use sports as a platform for promoting Nigeria’s eco-tourism potential, improving the fitness of security and para-military personnel, and encouraging stronger institutional partnerships.

He called for sustained collaboration between the club and the National Park Service to leverage the tournament’s visibility in promoting the country’s protected areas and supporting tourism development.

Responding, Goni expressed appreciation for the visit and reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to the success of NIPAMRIST 2026.

He pledged that the National Park Service would encourage active participation by its personnel, describing the tournament as an avenue to improve physical fitness, discipline, teamwork and esprit de corps among staff.

The Conservator-General also welcomed the proposal for deeper cooperation on eco-tourism, noting that the Service had continued to pursue partnerships that support biodiversity conservation, sustainable livelihoods and tourism development across Nigeria’s protected areas.

Goni linked the growing effects of climate change to environmental degradation and the neglect of environmental protection principles, noting that damage to ecosystems and the depletion of natural protective cover could contribute to displacement, migration and conflicts.

He said the relationship between sports and eco-tourism presented an opportunity to raise public awareness about Nigeria’s national parks while encouraging healthy lifestyles among service personnel and the wider population.

Goni assured the organising committee of the Service’s readiness to explore practical areas of cooperation before, during and after the tournament.

He also clarified that Nigeria has 17 national parks, with about 13 currently in active operation, correcting what he described as the misconception in some quarters that the country has only seven parks.

The visit ended with both parties agreeing to establish a working framework for the Service’s participation in the tournament and sustain discussions on eco-tourism promotion and other areas of mutual interest.

The organising committee expressed optimism that the partnership would strengthen NIPAMRIST 2026 and support its broader objectives of sports development, institutional cooperation and tourism promotion.

NIPAMRIST is the maiden inter-agency Ringo sport tournament organised by Ringo Sport Club–Nigeria for officers and personnel of Nigerian para-military establishments.

The 2026 edition is expected to feature 120 players and officials from eight agencies, including the National Park Service, Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Road Safety Corps, Federal Fire Service, Nigeria Immigration Service and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, among others.

The tournament is scheduled to run from November 19 to 21 at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.

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