LET’S WORK HARD TO JUSTIFY MR. PRESIDENT’S CONFIDENCE, MINISTER CHARGES STAFF

Published

6 years ago

August 21, 2019

The Gleamer

LET’S WORK HARD TO JUSTIFY MR. PRESIDENT’S CONFIDENCE, MINISTER CHARGES STAFF

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has

charged the management and staff of the Federal Ministry of

Information and Culture to work harder to justify the confidence of

President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Minister, who made the remarks in Abuja on Wednesday at his

inaugural meeting with the Permanent Secretary and directors of the

ministry immediately after he was sworn in by the President, said his

re-appointment and subsequent posting to the ministry is a mark of

confidence reposed in him by the President.

“My charge to all of us is to please redouble our effort so that we

can justify the confidence Mr. President has reposed in us. That Mr.

President has reappointed and posted me back to this ministry is a

measure of the confidence he has in me. So I think we all need to work

hard.

“Let me express my joy at the prospect of working again with the

Directors that I worked with in the last administration. Whatever

success we had achieved was because of the cooperation and

collaboration of Directors who worked with us,” he said.

Alhaji Mohammed said he would continue to work very closely with the

Permanent Secretary and the Directors in order to implement the core

mandate of the ministry.

“There must be synergy between the Minister and the Permanent

Secretary and I must say that I have enjoyed very cordial working

relationship with my Permanent Secretary, and I am very glad that that

relationship contributed in no small measure to the moderate success

we achieved. We need your cooperation because we can’t do it alone,”

he said.

The Minister also thanked the Media team that worked with him in the

past four years, saying the team did a lot to publicize the activities

of the ministry.

In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Deaconess Grace Isu-Gekpe,

expressed delight at the reappointment of Alhaji Mohammed and pledged

the readiness of the management and staff of the ministry to support

and cooperate with the Minister to enable him achieve his mandate.

“It’s actually been my desire to have you back sir. We are all very

glad to have you back to continue where you stopped. There is a lot of

work here and I believe that you will surely take this ministry to the

next level.

“I want to say welcome back to your family and all of us are ready to

work with you to take this ministry and the whole nation, in areas of

information and Culture, to the next level,” she said

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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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