Sports
Heavyweight Novelty Match:Friends of Dr. Ademola Are, FMYSD to Set FIFA Goal Project Ablaze on Thursday
Editor
It will be an entertainment, interesting and show of love on Thursday, tommorow when Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development’s staff (FMYSD) will lock horns with Friends Of Dr Ademola Are in an heavyweight novelty football match, as part of the activities to mark the retirement celebration of the FMYSD’s Director of Grassroot Development, Ademola Are.
The titanic battle will take centre stage at the FIFA goal project, MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja on Thursday by 4pm.
Former Director of Planning, Monitoring and information (PMI), Mrs Hauwa Kulu Akinyemi will serve as the match-day referee.
Nigeria’s U-15 National Team Assistant Coach Olubunmi Haruna, will lead the Friends Of Are Team, as renowned sports Broadcasters and Journalists: Ebare Callistus, Tony Asuquo, Tolu Oguntimehin, Udeme George, sweet and sexy Ebi Iyomon, Olusola Olujide, Olalekan Kilajolu, Oluwabusayo Olowookere, Mike Obasi, Niyi Busari and irrepressible media aide to minister of youth and sports, Kola Daniel will be in action.
Others are, versatile goalkeeper Joel Ajayi as Onimisi Abdul, Tobi Richard, Muhyideen Jimoh, David Collins, Wole Francis, Amaechi Agbo, Pius Titus and Olawale Ayeni all make the final cut.
It should be noted that high profile guests which will be led by the sports minister,
FMYSD’s permanent secretary, Directors, former Directors and sports federations presidents are expected to grace the occasion.
Others are Mr Olusade Adesola, FCT permanent secretary, Alhaji Sani lulu Abdullahi, former NFF President, Sanusi Mohammed NFF secretary, Former DG Sports Commission, Alhaji Alhassan Yakmut, Alhaji Abba Moukta
FCT FA Chairman, and Mr Luka Sports Director FCT,among others are also expected to be present at the fun-packed novelty game.
Sports
Tinubu, Fashola, Governors, UNESCO, Sports Leaders to Headline National Grassroots Sports Summit
Joel Ajayi
The stage is being set for a landmark gathering at the Presidential Villa as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, and leading figures from government, sports administration and international development feature in the proposed opening-day programme of the National Grassroots Sports Development Summit 2026.
In a statement signed by Thursday by the Chairperson Media Sub-com National Grassroot Sports Summit Dr. (Mrs.) Kehinde Ajayi stated that, the two-day Summit, scheduled for November 18–19, 2026, at the Banquet Hall, State House, Presidential Villa, Abuja, is being organized by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports Development, Hon. Adeyinka Anthony Adeboye.
With the theme “Creating a New Pathway for Sustainable Grassroots Sports Development,” the gathering seeks to produce practical solutions to Nigeria’s longstanding challenges in talent discovery, infrastructure, funding, coaching and athlete development.
The opening day, Wednesday, November 18, promises high-level engagement, with President Tinubu listed as Special Guest of Honour, while Fashola is scheduled to deliver a keynote address.
Also featuring in the Day One programme is Dr. Tayo Aduloju, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), whose organization has been engaged as technical partner to help translate discussions into a workable development roadmap.
Other personalities and institutions on the opening-day lineup include the Chairman and Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko and Hon. Bukola Olopade; the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum; the President of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON); and the Head of Office and UNESCO Representative to Nigeria.
Also listed are Barrister Enitan Oshodi, President of the African Table Tennis Federation; the President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee; and Dr. Musa Nakorji of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Research Department.
The involvement of these personalities reflects the Summit’s emphasis on connecting sports development with economic planning, education, grassroots governance, international cooperation and private-sector investment.
Adeboye described the gathering as an opportunity to move Nigerian sports beyond isolated achievements towards a coordinated national development system.
“The real question is not whether Nigeria has sporting talent.
We know we have talent in abundance. The question is how we build a system that discovers, nurtures and supports that talent consistently, from our communities and schools to the international stage,” he said.
He stressed that the participation of state governments, local councils, development institutions and sports administrators would be critical to producing lasting outcomes.
The Summit will continue on Thursday, November 19, with further stakeholder engagements aimed at developing actionable recommendations for sustainable grassroots sports development with preparations intensifying, organizers are confident that the gathering will provide a defining platform for strengthening the foundation of Nigerian sports and expanding opportunities for young people nationwide.
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