Sports
John Mikel Obi Bags FG’s Youth Ambassador Appointment
Joel Ajayi
The Federal Federal Government has appointed erstwhile Super Eagles skipper, John Mikel Obi as Youth Ambassador to inspire young Nigerians to strive for excellence.
The event which took place at the NOC secretariat, National Stadium, Surulere Lagos Weekend is another of the Minister’s initiative geared towards driving a vibrant youth for national development.
Speaking at the event, Minister of Youth and Sports Development Mr Sunday Dare described the former Chelsea legend as a role model whose lasting legacies in football development has continued to have positive impact on youths in the country.
The Minister promised to support Mikel’s vision and visions for sports development in the country and assured the Stoke City midfielder of Federal Government unalloyed support whenever he chooses to invest in the country.
” Time will not permit me to say much about Mikel’s success as a footballer. He is our legend and a role model who has continued to impact the lives of youth positively.
” It is it my pleasure to appoint you as Nigeria Youth Ambassador. It’s a new portfolio and your role as youth ambassador will be made known to Nigerian,” the Minister asserted.
In his response, Mikel expressed delight with his new portfolio and promised to work with the sports Ministry to foster youth development in the country.
” I feel highly honored to be appointed as Youth Ambassador of this country, it is a great feeling. I am happy with this partnership and I promise to do my best to encourage and inspire the youths towards national development not just in football but in other sports like Basketball, Boxing among others”, said Mikel.
The event was followed by a tour of the National stadium, Surulere which is under going rehabilitation.
The Minister stated that alot of efforts had been put into the rehabilitation of the stadium with much emphasis on the pitch, scoreboard, tantran tracks and the spectators’ stand. He stressed that the Ministry had also partnered with a private organization to change the seat of the 45, 000 capacity Stadium to a standard one
” A lot has been put in place to ensure that the stadium returns to what it used to be. The seats are no loanger in line with FIFA standard, but we have partnered a private organization to have modern seats in place,” he concluded.
Sports
35 Days to Go: Nigeria Set to Host African Junior Athletics Championship in Abeokuta
Joel Ajayi
With just 35 days to go, Nigeria is revving up preparations to host the 3rd edition of the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) African Junior Athletics Championship, scheduled to take place from July 16 to 20, 2025, in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Returning to Nigerian soil, the prestigious biennial event will welcome the continent’s most promising Under-18 and Under-20 athletes to the newly refurbished MKO Abiola International Stadium, which recently played host to the 22nd National Sports Festival.
Over 500 athletes from more than 50 African nations are expected to compete in this year’s championship, making it one of the largest gatherings of young athletic talent on the continent.
South Africa, the reigning overall champions, will be looking to defend their title, but Nigeria’s young stars are also eager to make a strong statement on home soil.
“This is not just a competition; it is a celebration of Africa’s future in track and field,” Hon. Bukola Olopade, DG of the National Sports Commission said.
“Nigeria is honored to host once again and to demonstrate its world-class capacity in organizing major sporting events,” he added.
The choice of Abeokuta—also known as the Gateway City—underscores the state’s growing reputation as a hub for sports development, alongside other Nigerian cities. With its state-of-the-art facilities and strategic location, the city is set to deliver an unforgettable experience for athletes, officials, and fans alike.
The CAA African Junior Championships is widely regarded as the breeding ground for the continent’s future Olympic and world champions.
As the countdown continues, all eyes will be on Nigeria to once again rise to the occasion and reinforce its status as Africa’s true sporting giant.
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