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FG Commends Enugu State Government For Promoting Sports Development

Published

10 months ago

November 11, 2023

Joel Ajayi

The Federal Government has commended the Enugu State Government under the stewardship of His Excellency, Dr. Peter Ndubusi Mbah, for its commitment to promoting sports development through the innovative and comprehensive upgrade and rebranding of sporting facilities in the state.

The Honourable Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, gave the commendation today in Enugu, the Enugu State Capital, shortly after the inspection tour of sporting facilities in the state.

He stated that the Federal Government was impressed with the commitment of the State Government, especially in the areas of grassroots sports, talent identification, and infrastructure upgrade as well as in its vision for sports as a profitable business venture because it tallies with the Federal Government’s vision for the sector.

Senator Owan Enoh stated further that his visit to the state was to enable him to have a one-on-one discussion with His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah on how they can partner together to unlock the economic potentials of sports and to further visit the Ministry’s Zonal Office as well as inspect sporting facilities in the state so as to have first-hand knowledge of their current status in order to take definitive action on them.

The Minister who was led on the inspection tour of facilities by the Honourable Commissioner for Youth and Sports in the State, Lloyd Ekweremadu, noted that Enugu State deserves commendation from all sports-loving Nigerians, especially in their contributions to sports development.

He added that the state has a rich history with an international brand like the Rangers football club.

Senator Owan Enoh assured that the Ministry of Sports Development under his watch was ready to collaborate with the Enugu State Government to ensure that the sector wears a new face, a venture where interested businessmen and women can invest their money and make profits.

The vision of government at the Federal level Senator Owan Enoh said, is to also see sports as a sector that can create jobs, alleviate poverty in society, and contribute to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and not just a mere recreation this further underscores the importance of our visit to the Zonal Office located in the State. We are charging our Zonal Coordinators to brace up and begin to work closely and assiduously with their state hosts and also ensure that sports activities are organized and well packaged right at the grassroots in order to attract private sector sponsorships he said.

Also speaking, the Honourable Commissioner for Youth and Sports in the State, Lloyd Ekweremadu commended the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Administration for endorsing the National Sports Industry Policy (NSIP) approved by the immediate past administration which classified sports as a business and not just a mere recreation, a vision he said, is in line with the focus of the Governor Mbah-led administration.

Mr Ekweremadu observed that sports is a critical business sector that if well thought out and properly harnessed, can translate the passion and energies in our youth, provide jobs for them, increase our GDP, and enable a safe and peaceful environment for Nigerians as well as boost the economy of our nation.

The Honourable Commissioner used the opportunity to appeal to the relevant stakeholders in the industry, corporate and private sector organizations as well as other sports-loving Nigerians to see and understand the new vision in sports and join hands with the Federal and Enugu State Governments in unlocking the economic potential of sports in Nigeria.

Facilities visited by the Honourable Minister of Sports Development Senator John Owan Enoh after a courtesy call on the Executive Governor of Enugu State Dr Peter Ndubusi Mbah at the Government House Enugu and the Ministry’s Zonal Office include Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium, Enugu, Administrative Office of Rangers Club, Rangers Club Hostel as well as Rangers Club Training Pitch.

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RMRDC: Making Giant Strides Under Prof. Nnanyelugo Martins Ike-Muonso

Published

6 hours ago

September 19, 2024

The Gleamer

By Joel Ajayi

As we embark on a journey, we always pray for an able, experienced, and courageous driver, pilot, or sailor depending on the means of transportation.

This is because the captain will have enough experience and boldness to navigate out of turbulence and to bring all the passengers and crew to the intended destination.

Interestingly, these fine qualities of ability, experience, boldness, and many more, abound in the man, Prof. Nnanyelugo Martins Ike-Muonso, who we all are pleased was appointed the Raw Materials Research and Development Council, RMRDC, the Director General/CEO by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu a few months ago. This is because he has brought his knowledge, ability, experience, and doggedness to bear in carrying out his assignment in charge of the Council.

The RMRDC, operating under the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology, is pivotal in driving Nigeria’s industrial growth by optimizing local raw materials exploitation, development, and utilization. RMRDC, ab initio, was conceived as a child of necessity when Nigeria was reeling from the throes of global recession and plummeting crude oil prices.

Without an iota of doubt, today, the council is experiencing a transformation with massive innovation in raw material exploitation, development, and utilization, supporting business and industrial growth, and contributing to Nigeria’s economic prosperity.

Speaking during a press briefing on Tuesday, in Abuja to commemorate his 100 days in office, he said the council is laying a solid foundation through numerous innovations that will further enhance growth in the country.

According to him, “In the past 100 days, my strategic pursuits have been to lay solid foundations for enduring success in these goals.

“Upon assuming this position, I set five crucial deliverables which include, refocusing the Council as a premier research institution; Strengthening the Council’s productivity and operational efficiency; and Significantly improving the staff welfare to be the best in the class of similar organizations.

“Others include, Boosting the Council’s visibility and instituting remarkable culture change that encourages ownership and productivity as well as Strengthening and deepening the Council’s place in the international arena.”While speaking on his Achievements so far, the DG revealed further: “My first task, therefore, was to implement a strategic goal-setting for the Council’s staff to define and set out clear objectives and targets to be achieved by the Council within a specified period towards refocusing on this historical mandate. We unleashed five significant initiatives in that regard.

“The nationwide raw material data collection exercise that focused on technical and investment information to drive our mission forward.

“The restructuring and renaming of the former Technology Innovation Complex (TIC), at the Obasanjo Space Center at Airport Road, Abuja, to a Research and Demonstration Plants Complex (RDPC). This complex will be Africa’s first center of excellence in raw material research, featuring state-of-the-art laboratories, technology development workshops, and proof of concept demonstrations.

“We have reactivated the Council’s Journal and repositioned it internationally. The repositioned Journal of Raw Material Research (JORMAR) will host RMRDC’s researchers’ publications, which are crucial in promoting awareness, facilitating knowledge sharing, and informing stakeholders about the opportunities and challenges in Nigeria’s raw materials sector. “The collaboration with universities and academies will strengthen our capacity for conducting market-guided research, ensuring sustained workforce training while deepening our orientation in science.

“The council has reformulated a new template for all our research proposals to ensure and sustain a clear departure from the old culture of blue-sky and deliberately endless research.”Speaking further, Prof Nwanyelugo Martins Ike-Muonso stated that Staff welfare remains a top priority as an issue of unpaid salaries is settled as well as set up a comprehensive welfare program. “Similarly, we established the RMRDC Training School to sustainably build our staff and stakeholders’ capacity to further the staff welfare improvement goal.

“We are committed to openness, inclusiveness, and performance management and have initiated steps to continuously improve staff ownership, orchestrate transformative culture change, boost our corporate visibility, and enhance.

“To further strengthen our visibility and communication strategies, we are upgrading our media infrastructure, which includes the launch of the RMRDC online media platform, The RMRDC TV Online.

“Additionally, we are working hard to effectively enhance the intellectual property and patent portfolio of RMRDC from its current 40 to approximately 200 new patents within the next 24 months. This proactive approach secures valuable IP assets and positions the Council as a leader in innovation within the raw materials sector, contributing to Nigeria’s overall economic growth.“As well as launching an e-registration and certification portal to enhance transparency in the raw materials sector,” DG revealed.

He however reaffirmed his commitment to reshape the future of research, technology, and innovation, driving Nigeria towards an industrially vibrant and technologically resilient economy.

“As I mark 100 days in office, I boldly say that the Council is on the verge of rewriting its history.

“I believe that in no distant future, RMRDC will play a leading role in enhancing raw materials’ development to boost raw materials’ industrial trial processing and attain sustainable industrial growth in Nigeria.

The DG, however, applauded the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, for his unwavering support and mentorship, saying the Minister’s leadership has been instrumental in the progress made so far.

In his opening remarks, the Directorate of Corporate Affairs, Mr Chucks Ngaha commended the hard-working DG who has weathered the storm further to put the Council on the ladder of more prosperity.

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