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GFN Festival Will Inspire Young Gymnasts, Create Pathways — President

Published

4 weeks ago

September 26, 2026

Joel Ajayi

The President of the Gymnastics Federation of Nigeria (GFN), Prince Kelvin Erhunwunse, has said the Federation’s Catch Them Young initiative will help raise future gymnasts while creating opportunities for Nigerian youths to develop their talents and pursue careers in sports.

Erhunwunse stated this on Saturday in Abuja tat the 3rd North-Central Regional Catch Them Young Gymnastics Festival, organised by the GFN and National Sports Commission (NSC), in conjunction with the Turkish Gymnastics Federation (TGF).

The festival, themed “Building Bridges, Renewing Hope for Future Generations,” is aimed at establishing gymnastics clubs in public and private schools to increase grassroots participation and expose young athletes to national and international opportunities, including scholarship programmes.

According to Erhunwunse, the initiative is structured into three levels — Level One Foundation, Level Two Development and Level Three Advancement — to provide young participants with progressive training and development.

He said the programme was also designed to support the development of about 30,000 gymnasts across Nigeria, while providing schools with opportunities to access gymnastics equipment and encouraging the establishment of more clubs.

The GFN president said the initiative was in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, particularly in the areas of youth development, sports development, employment creation and the discovery of talents from the grassroots.

He urged parents, schools and coaches to give the young athletes the necessary support, noting that some of the children participating in the programme could eventually represent Nigeria at major international competitions.

Erhunwunse also expressed appreciation to the participating schools, parents and partners, particularly the Turkish International School, for supporting the initiative.

Speaking at the event, President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Engineer Habu Gumel, commended the GFN for organising the programme, describing it as an important grassroots development initiative designed to “catch them young.”

Gumel said the children participating in the festival could become future Olympians and medal winners at the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games and African Games if they received proper training, education and support.

He urged coaches to give the young gymnasts adequate attention and professional training, stressing the need to create the right environment for them to develop their potential.

The NOC president also expressed satisfaction with the progress being made in Nigerian gymnastics, saying the GFN’s collaboration with the NOC and NSC would help advance the sport.

He expressed hope that Nigerian gymnastics would participate in the qualification process for the 2028 Olympic Games and wished the athletes and organisers success.

Also speaking, the Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade, represented by Mrs Rita Mosindi, said gymnastics goes beyond sporting competition, as it teaches children discipline, balance, courage, concentration and perseverance.

She described the young participants as potential future champions, coaches, sports administrators and disciplined citizens who could contribute positively to the country.

Olopade commended the GFN leadership, coaches, parents and other stakeholders for investing in the development of young athletes.

He encouraged the children to believe in themselves, listen to their coaches, work hard and remain resilient, noting that falling and rising again are important parts of both gymnastics and life.

The NSC DG reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to supporting programmes that introduce children to sports early, identify talents and provide opportunities for them to develop their potential.

He also urged the GFN to continue creating programmes that would make gymnastics accessible to more Nigerian children across the country.

The festival brought together young gymnasts, coaches, parents, schools and sports stakeholders, with organisers expressing optimism that the initiative would strengthen grassroots gymnastics development and open new pathways for Nigeria’s future sporting talents.

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DNKI President Champions Humanitarian Service, Sustainable Community Development

Published

9 hours ago

October 21, 2026

The Gleamer

Cyril Samania

The President of De Norsemen Kclub International (DNKI), Chief Oliver Patrick Ityohegh, has reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to humanitarian service, stressing the importance of supporting vulnerable people and improving community welfare beyond the annual celebration of Humanitarian Day.

Ityohegh stated this during the organisation’s Cauldron Night and Award Presentation held to commemorate its 2026 Humanitarian Day celebration, theme: “Humanity First: Advancing Hope, Dignity and Community Well-being.” organised by the DNKI Abuja Chapter.

He emphasised that humanitarian service should be a continuous responsibility driven by compassion, solidarity and a commitment to making a meaningful difference in society.

According to him, DNKI’s humanitarian activities reflect its dedication to giving back to society and supporting people in need, while encouraging members to sustain initiatives that promote human dignity and community well-being.

He added that the organisation would continue to strengthen its humanitarian engagements through practical interventions aimed at improving the lives of vulnerable people and promoting community development.

Speaking at the event, the representative of the Abuja Chapter Chairman and Chairman of its Advisory Council, Prince Efiong Okpe, said the organisation’s humanitarian activities extended beyond the annual celebration of Humanitarian Day on October 15.

Okpe explained that DNKI undertook several initiatives throughout the year, including blood donation exercises, visits to hospitals and correctional centres, as well as support for orphanages and other vulnerable groups.

According to him, the organisation also collaborated with humanitarian bodies in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to identify areas of need and provide assistance within its available resources.

He described Humanitarian Day as an opportunity for members to renew their commitment to service and demonstrate solidarity with people facing difficult circumstances.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Planning Committee and Coordinator of the DNKI Gwagwalada Zone, Mr Etudaiye Hamzat, disclosed that the chapter had provided financial assistance to some members to help pay their children’s school fees, alongside distributing bags of rice and other relief items to members experiencing hardship.

Hamzat explained that the interventions followed concerns over the difficulties some members faced in meeting their family responsibilities, particularly the rising cost of their children’s education.

He maintained that supporting members in need was consistent with the organisation’s humanitarian principles, adding that DNKI remained committed to extending assistance to non-members and vulnerable communities as part of its commitment to leading by example.

Looking ahead, Hamzat said the Abuja Chapter planned to expand its humanitarian outreach to remote communities within the FCT, with particular attention to orphanages, schools and widows facing difficulties in meeting their family responsibilities.

He also recalled previous interventions for internally displaced persons (IDPs), which included the distribution of food, clothing and educational materials, noting that the chapter intended to scale up such initiatives in the coming year.

The highlight of the event was the presentation of awards to outstanding members and distinguished non-members in recognition of their contributions to humanitarian service.

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