Sports

Maj Gen Gagariga awards scholarship to young volleyball players

Published

5 years ago

November 8, 2021

Joel Ajayi

A Board Member of Nigeria Volleyball Federation, Major General Taritimiye Gagariga has awarded Education Foundation Scholarships to Abbass Ibrahim (Defense Spikers of Abuja) and Abednego Hassan (Yelwa Spikers of Bauchi state)

Major General Gagariga gave the scholarships to the young players after their exceptional display at the Kontagora Volleyball Challenge Competition in Kotangora, Niger State on Monday.

The Commander Corps of Artillery stated that both players who emerged best Liberos would be sponsored throughout their secondary school to include their JAMB, NECO and WAEC.

Maj Gen Gagariga stressed that the relevance of education in one’s career can never be overemphasized as it touches every aspect of one’s life including learning the game of volleyball.

He said, “I am urging all junior players to take their education with all seriousness as it will project their image. I want to reassure you all of my unrelenting support to your educational pursuits.

“The awards were organized and conducted to inculcate the desire for education to the participants while developing and improving their chosen career as volleyball players.”

Other beneficiaries of the award are; Destiny Ayuba (Vulcan Volleyball Club of Kontagora), Mary, Martha and Blessing Anebi (Scorpion Spikers Abuja)

They are also sponsored throughout their secondary school to include their writing of JAMB, NECO and WAEC.

It should be recalled that the grassroots Education Foundation Scholarship Awards began December 2020 in Nigerian Army School of Artillery Kachia where the then Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, presented a cheque for the sum of N636,000 to Master Abubakar Mohammed of G-RANK Spikers.

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Sports

Tinubu, Fashola, Governors, UNESCO, Sports Leaders to Headline National Grassroots Sports Summit

Published

7 hours ago

October 29, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The stage is being set for a landmark gathering at the Presidential Villa as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, and leading figures from government, sports administration and international development feature in the proposed opening-day programme of the National Grassroots Sports Development Summit 2026.

In a statement signed by Thursday by the Chairperson Media Sub-com National Grassroot Sports Summit Dr. (Mrs.) Kehinde Ajayi stated that, the two-day Summit, scheduled for November 18–19, 2026, at the Banquet Hall, State House, Presidential Villa, Abuja, is being organized by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports Development, Hon. Adeyinka Anthony Adeboye.

With the theme “Creating a New Pathway for Sustainable Grassroots Sports Development,” the gathering seeks to produce practical solutions to Nigeria’s longstanding challenges in talent discovery, infrastructure, funding, coaching and athlete development.

The opening day, Wednesday, November 18, promises high-level engagement, with President Tinubu listed as Special Guest of Honour, while Fashola is scheduled to deliver a keynote address.

Also featuring in the Day One programme is Dr. Tayo Aduloju, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), whose organization has been engaged as technical partner to help translate discussions into a workable development roadmap.

Other personalities and institutions on the opening-day lineup include the Chairman and Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko and Hon. Bukola Olopade; the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum; the President of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON); and the Head of Office and UNESCO Representative to Nigeria.

Also listed are Barrister Enitan Oshodi, President of the African Table Tennis Federation; the President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee; and Dr. Musa Nakorji of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Research Department.

The involvement of these personalities reflects the Summit’s emphasis on connecting sports development with economic planning, education, grassroots governance, international cooperation and private-sector investment.

Adeboye described the gathering as an opportunity to move Nigerian sports beyond isolated achievements towards a coordinated national development system.

“The real question is not whether Nigeria has sporting talent.
We know we have talent in abundance. The question is how we build a system that discovers, nurtures and supports that talent consistently, from our communities and schools to the international stage,” he said.

He stressed that the participation of state governments, local councils, development institutions and sports administrators would be critical to producing lasting outcomes.

The Summit will continue on Thursday, November 19, with further stakeholder engagements aimed at developing actionable recommendations for sustainable grassroots sports development with preparations intensifying, organizers are confident that the gathering will provide a defining platform for strengthening the foundation of Nigerian sports and expanding opportunities for young people nationwide.

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