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Inauguration: AUDA-NEPAD resumes with special prayer for national development

Published

6 years ago

May 31, 2019

Inauguration: AUDA-NEPAD resumes with special prayer for national development

Abuja, May 30, 2019 (NAN) Mrs. Gloria Akobundu , National Coordinator,Chief Executive Officer, African Union Development Agency/ New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD) prays for peace, unity and development as work resumes in Nigeria after May 29 inauguration.

Akobundu led the staff to pray for the nation on Thursday at a special Iftar Prayer organised by the agency for its Muslim staff to mark the Holy Month of Ramadan.

According to AUDA-NEPAD boss, any opportunity to pray and thank God should be well utilized.

The Chief Executive spoke with the media after the joint prayers by both Muslims and Non-Muslim staff of the agency.

“ We prayed for peace, we also prayed for development, prayed for wealth, prayed for stability in our economy so that our children can live in peace and harmony.

“ There are lot to thank God for and there are lot to also ask God to help us to achieve as a nation, that is what we have done today.

“We thank God for successful inauguration of our dear President Muhammadu Buharit and vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

We thank God for another era of peace, upliftment, joy, happiness and era of wealth creation in our country.
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We thank God for better citizens. We thank God for the life and peaceful coexistence,” she said.

She said there should be no division whenever there was need to work or pray for the nation.

“ We all pray to one God and nobody should deceive him or herself. Allah is called God in English,in Igbo, He is `Chukwu’. Language cannot be a barrier to the unity of this great country.

“Our forefathers were all speaking different languages and they did not divide the country. Our fathers and generations before us, they all lived in peace in this country.

“Do your own prayers, follow your faith base and all that but it should not have anything to do with the unity of this great country,’’ she reiterated.

Akobundu glorified God for the growth of the Agency under her watch.

. It’s a very special day to us, all the staff of NEPAD, Now AUDA-NEPAD.
“ Its even a blessing for us, we pray and thank God,” she said.

Members of staff who spoke with the media commended the National Coordinator for her ingenuity in bringing the staff together to achieve mandate of the agency.

Comrade Aliyu Abubakr, Union Chairman, AUDA- NEPAD commended the C.E.O.

“On behalf of the entire staff, I thank our chief executive for creating a programme like this because apart from praying together as a team, we also interact with one another during the period.

“It is not only during Ramadan that we come together like this, we do same during Easter or any other time.

“It is a very good idea and we thank our boss for promoting unity among us, even as we are from various backgrounds religious and ethnic wise,” he said.

Similarly, Mrs. Paulet Ken-Okorie, Head of Servicom in the Agency expressed her delight to the idea.

“This is a laudable programme as staff come together, Christians and Muslims for prayer.

“We thank the management for putting this together, it really goes a long way to promote unity among us,” she said.

Hajia Hauwa Kazir, another officer of the agency also shared her thought about the prayer.

“Our C.E.O believes in fostering unity, she believes in bringing people together through programmes like this.

“It is a motivational tool because we all come together to pray and relate with one another during occasions like this, wether it Ramadan or Easter festivity. We thank our Madam for this,” she said.

Gleamer News recalls AUDA-NEPAD’s mandate includes: strengthening capacity of African Union (AU) member states and advancing knowledge-based advisory support.

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

Published

5 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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