Sports

Fresh Dawn for Nigerian Sports as NSC Swears In Federation Boards, Urges Focus on DeveCommission

Published

1 month ago

October 26, 2025

Joel Ajayi
It was a new dawn for Nigerian sports on Saturday in Abuja as the National Sports Commission (NSC) inaugurated newly elected boards of various sports federations, marking a fresh chapter in the nation’s sports administration.

The inauguration followed what many described as a free, fair, and transparent election process across the different federations.

Speaking during the event, the Director General of the NSC, Chief Bukola Olopade, charged the new presidents and board members to formulate their individual constitutions within six months to ensure effective governance and sustainable sports development.

Among the federations inaugurated were Wrestling, Cricket, Hockey, Tennis, Shooting, Squash, Swimming, Traditional Sports, and Handball, among others.

Chief Olopade expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the elections, commending stakeholders for their maturity and cooperation. He noted that credible, competent, and visionary individuals have emerged to lead the new boards, which he described as a major boost for the sports sector.

He cited the election of notable figures such as the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, as President of the Wrestling Federation; the Minister of Finance, Adebayo Olawale, as President of the Boxing Federation; and former Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Victor Ochei, as President of the Tennis Federation, as clear indications of the government’s renewed commitment to professionalism and accountability in sports administration.

“We are pleased with the quality of leadership that has emerged from these elections. These are individuals with proven track records who can drive reform, attract private investment, and deliver results,” Olopade said.

He added that the Commission is adopting a new model of sports governance built on corporate principles, performance-based management, and strong private sector involvement.

According to him, the NSC will hold all federations accountable for their promises and ensure they mobilize private funding to complement government efforts.

Olopade also highlighted examples of federations already benefiting from private sector partnerships, such as the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation, which recently secured a ₦500 million sponsorship deal from a betting company.

“Our goal is to make sports in Nigeria self-sustaining through strong partnerships and responsible leadership,” he emphasized.

He assured stakeholders that the Commission remains committed to transparency, fairness, and due process in addressing any electoral disputes or unresolved issues.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the 2025 Sports Federations Electoral Committee, Dr. Simon Ebohjaye, described the elections as smooth, credible, and well-organized, noting that only the Kickboxing Federation’s election was postponed for a later date due to minor issues.

“We’ve had national and zonal elections for our sports federations, and the process has been very orderly. This exercise will usher in credible leadership that will strengthen our national federations and advance sports development across the country,” Ebohjaye said.

With the inauguration of the new boards, stakeholders and sports enthusiasts alike are optimistic that this marks the beginning of a new era of growth, professionalism, and innovation for Nigerian sports.

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Sports

Tangerine APT Pension Crowned New Kings of PFA Games 2025

Published

10 hours ago

November 30, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi
Joel Ajayi Tangerine APT Pension stormed the 2025 Pension Fund Administrators Games and snatched the crown with a commanding 66 points—ending FCMB’s reign and announcing themselves as the new champions of corporate sporting excellence.

From the first whistle to the final scoreboard, Tangerine APT played like an organisation possessed. They dominated volleyball and snooker, showcased brilliant tactical depth to finish second in chess behind Norrenberger, secured second place in team bonding behind Premium Pension, and held their own across the board—fourth in football, sixth in table tennis, fifth in scrabble, and eighth in e-sports, press conference, discipline and grooming. Every point mattered, and Tangerine APT grabbed them with fire.

Defending champions FCMB, despite flashes of brilliance, simply could not summon last year’s magic.

They finished second overall with 63 points—just three points behind the new champions. FCMB were first in scrabble, second in football, third in table tennis and e-sports, fourth in snooker and team bonding, and fifth in volleyball, chess, and press conference/discipline/grooming. A brave defence, but not enough to stop the Tangerine wave.

Rounding off the podium is NPF Pension, finishing third with 57 points after a spirited campaign. They claimed gold in football, second in table tennis and e-sports, third in volleyball, fourth in scrabble, sixth in press conference/discipline/fanfare/most coordinated, seventh in chess, and eighth in snooker and team bonding.

The rest of the table saw fierce competition:4th – Norrenberger Pension: 52 points, 5th – Premium Pension: 47 points, 6th – NNPC Pension: 45 points, 7th – Access Arm: 41 points
In Others position 8th – Trustfund Pension: 29 points 9th – PENCOM: 28 points and 10th – NUPEMCO: 25 points.

With the dust settled and the cheers still echoing, one truth stands tall:Tangerine APT Pension has ushered in a new era—bold, dominant, and unforgettable.

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