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I Will Give My Best To Reposition NNL-Adesanya

Published

5 years ago

August 7, 2020

… Call for Stakeholders’ support

Joel Ajayi

The newly appointed Chief Operating Officer COO Emmanuel Adesanya has pledged to leave no stone unturned to ensure repositioning of Nigeria’s second-tier league, and Nigeria National League (NNL) for the benefit of Nigerians.

Mr. Emmanuel Adesanya COO NNL

It will be recalled that, the Nigeria Football Federation NFF appointed Emmanuel Adesanya as the new Chief Operating Officer of NNL. after which the former COO Lawrence Katken, retired from service.

To this end, NNL Boss, however, sought stakeholders’ support saying that stakeholders would be carried along as work has started to turn the fortune of the league.

Adesanya who had to serve in various capacities in the federation stated this on Thursday in Abuja in an interview with Journalists saying the quest now is to re-position and re-organize the League.

According to him, “I felt excited, and it’s a call to service to my father’s land, am back to the terrain, I have always been a competitive person thus calling me to come back to the NNL is a challenge to me” he said.

“We will look at what led to the state of the league, from there we will able to know how to go about it, as it stands the doctor in the hospital will need to examine the patient before he will know how to treat the patient”.

“We will sit down with stakeholders, club owners, and even the media to see what led to what the league was and how to move forward, we will have a formidable team that will help us reposition the league. Football the administration is dynamic and continuous, once you have an experience you have to leverage on that which is what I intend to do with the help of God and other stakeholders”.

When asked if NNL will be shown on TV? He replied: “Before you can dabble into that you must make sure you secure the formidable sponsor and you must have a partnership with a reputable print and electronic media. It’s not a thing you can just do out of thin air, it is a big business putting the League on TV and even to run commentary on radio.

Speaking about the sponsor for the NNL, Adesanya, expressed that the board would work assiduously to ensure that the league gets the required sponsorship.

“We thank Bet9ja for partnering with the league before and we are looking forward to seeing them and other partners come and sponsor the league because they already know the terrain and that can only happen with the help of NFF, stakeholders, and the media.

“We are looking at getting a sponsor for the league and see how we can be able to return the league to television. But first, we must rebrand and reposition the league to make it attractive where we can bring people back to the stadium”.

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Featured

Nigeria’s Historic Bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games: A Call for National and Global Support

Published

6 days ago

September 30, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

Nigeria is poised to make history as it seeks to host the Centenary Commonwealth Games in 2030, a monumental opportunity that promises to transform the nation’s economy, infrastructure, and global standing.

More than a sporting spectacle, the Games would serve as a catalyst for development across multiple sectors, leaving behind a legacy of national pride and sustainable growth.

The benefits of hosting the Games extend far beyond the sports arena. Nigeria stands to gain both empirical and non-empirical advantages, with direct, indirect, and induced impacts that will touch every corner of society. Infrastructural development will take center stage, with new facilities such as indoor sports halls, conference centers, and improved road networks reshaping urban landscapes while strengthening the nation’s capacity to host future international events.

Economic growth is another significant dividend. Over 10,000 jobs are expected to be created, spanning construction, facility management, event planning, and tourism services.

The hospitality industry will undergo major improvements as hotels and resorts are upgraded to meet international standards, while local restaurants, lounges, and tourist attractions will see a surge in patronage from international visitors. Small and medium enterprises, particularly in the transport, finance, and food service sectors, will become some of the greatest beneficiaries, as the Games generate new demand and expand opportunities for local businesses.
The Commonwealth Games will also accelerate the growth of Nigeria’s sports industry.

Investments in training facilities, coaching, and talent development will inspire a new generation of athletes, ensuring long-term benefits that extend beyond 2030, a major focus of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
At the same time, the process of preparing for the Games will create opportunities for Nigerians to learn new crafts, acquire technical skills, and engage in global-standard event management, thereby strengthening human capacity and innovation across industries.

Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the Nigeria Sports Commission, and Hon. Bukola Olopade, the Director General, have been widely recognized for their tireless and visionary leadership in repositioning Nigeria’s sporting sector.

Their commitment to facilitating infrastructural development and strengthening grassroots sports development has laid the foundation for Nigeria’s bold bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Under their leadership, the NSC is fostering strategic partnerships and driving innovation in sports administration, they have demonstrated the nation’s readiness to stage an event of such global magnitude.

Beyond the tangible gains, the hosting of the 2030 Commonwealth Games carries profound symbolic value. It would be a moment of unity and pride, a chance for Nigeria to showcase its cultural richness, resilience, and excellence to the world.
As a centenary edition, the Games would stand as a historic milestone not just for the Commonwealth but for Nigeria itself, cementing its place on the global stage as a capable, ambitious, and forward-looking nation.

The gains from hosting the Commonwealth Games can never be undermined or overemphasized. This is Nigeria’s time to step forward and show the world our resilience, and excellence. We call on every Nigerian, across sectors and communities, to support this noble aspiration.

Nigeria’s pursuit of the 2030 Commonwealth Games is a vision for transformation, a blueprint for national development, and a legacy project that will inspire generations to come.

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