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LSFA: Akinwunmi unveils 4-point agenda

Published

6 years ago

May 28, 2019

LSFA: Akinwunmi unveils 4-point agenda

Basking in the euphoria of his recent victory at the Lagos State Football Association (LSFA) Chairmanship election, Seyi Akinwunmi, said that the focal point of his administration would be re-positioning Eko Football.

Akinwunmi gave insight into what would be the focal points of his administration in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Tuesday.

He said that he would introduce a 21st century model of administration to the association through digitisation of its operations.

Akinwunmi, an astute football administrator, on Monday got another mandate to propel the administration of football in Lagos State for the next four years.

He emerged winner in a close contest with another football administrator, Liameed Gafar, who he defeated with nine votes to four in an election decided at the Morning Side Suites, Taslim Elias Close, Lagos Island.

Akinwunmi told NAN that he would run an all-inclusive government to achieve his goal of moving football to an enviable height in Lagos State.

“The next phase of my project in Lagos State is to complete the good works that we have started. People are yet to realise where we started from, they think football is just flowing.

“If they have to dig deep, they will realise where we started from, but for us, it is time for the state to reap the benefits of what we have laboured for in the past years,’’ he said.

Akinwunmi said that his administration had a four-point agenda, which included digitalisation of LSFA, strong football structures among others.

“The first project is the digitalisation of the FA administration all through from the Divisional Football Association (DFA) to the Football Association (FA).

“We also want to look out for the structures as well. The current structure does not fit and cannot take us anywhere, we couldn’t do that before now because we needed to consolidate.

“Also, we cannot take the decision alone, we need to establish an administrative council that will encapsulate the board members and the DFAs so that we can meet once every quarter.

“We need to review issues and see what next to do,’’ the LSFA chairman-elect said.

He said that his administration would also seek to resuscitate the moribund grassroots football league and also propose a media workshop.

“The third agenda will be to establish a grassroots league and once that is done, football in Lagos State will be on auto-pilot because we would have created all the necessary incentives.

“We want to create a football on a business model, which will attract investors, doing this will take football to an enviable height.

“Also, we want to have a media seminar and workshop because we have realised the important role media is playing in the progress of football not just in administration but politics as well.

“This is football and we need to get our acts together, even if it means that we need to tell ourselves the home truth,” Akinwunmi said. (NAN)

NAN

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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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