Creative Industry

National Breakdance Championship: FAME Foundation hold Kano, Kaduna Qualifiers

Published

2 years ago

July 21, 2023

FAME Foundation, a non-governmental organization based in Abuja, recently organized a national breakdance championship qualifier in Kaduna and Kano, respectively.

This event aims to empower the youth through sports under the Play it Dream it Initiative, strengthening the inclusion of young people and vulnerable people through sport, will inspire and teach valuable life skills to young people – particularly those that are consistently underserved, excluded, or economically disadvantaged.

The championship which started on July 17, 2023 at the Alliance Francaise office of Kaduna state, had a total of 41 break dancers in attendance, while Kano qualifier that took place on July 17, 2023 at the Alliance Francaise office of Kano, had 30 participants. Kaduna and Kano recorded six and five finalists, respectively.

An excited participant from Kano, Benjamin Samuel, aka Bboy Xsycho commended the organizers for organizing a breakdance championship in Kano for the very first time, “I have been a dancer for a very long time, like 15 years, and throughout my journey as a dancer, I have never had an opportunity like this in Kano where a qualifier of a National Breakdance will come to the Kano state, I want to say a big shoot-out to French Embassy and FAME Foundation for remembering Kano state, “he said.

Similarly, Obed Bawa, aka Bboy Bawa, one of the finalists from Kaduna, expressed his excitement, “I’m thrilled about this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the youth in Kaduna. As dancers, we usually have to travel outside the state for auditions. I want to extend my gratitude, and we are determined to train hard for the finals in Lagos to make Kaduna proud, “he assured.

After the event, Executive Director of FAME Foundation, Ms Aderonke Ogunleye-Bello, expressed her gratitude, saying, “I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to the French Embassy for their invaluable support in making this event possible. Furthermore, I appreciate the technical support provided by the Nigeria Dance Sport Federation. Through the ongoing play, it Dream it initiative, young, and vulnerable individuals will be included and empowered through sports.”

The competition will continue in three more states, Port Harcourt, on August 2, 2023; Abuja on September 9, 2023, and Lagos on September 22, 2023, with the grand finale scheduled for October. Two winners from the grand finale will represent Nigeria at an international breakdance championship in France with other consolation prizes for the runner-up.

The project is financed by the Solidarity Fund for Innovative Projects (FSPI – R) of the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs. It aims to support initiatives in the areas of democratic governance, culture, French, higher education, and research.

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Creative Industry

Experts Urge Collaborative Training and Investment to Propel Nigeria’s Tourism and Transportation Industry at NTTSummit 2025

Published

7 hours ago

December 5, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The 8th edition of the National Tourism Transportation Summit and Expo has concluded in Abuja with a strong call for the integration of entrepreneurship development, skills acquisition and capacity-building programmes into the national policy framework for the tourism and transportation sectors.

According to the communique issued at the end of the two-day summit, stakeholders emphasized that such initiatives are essential for empowering youth and women, equipping them with the practical skills required to enter the industry, and stimulating investment through effective collaboration among training and capacity-development institutions. This, they noted, is critical for advancing the growth of Nigeria’s travel, tourism, hospitality and transportation sectors.

The communique further highlighted the need for strengthened cooperation among key public and private sector players, including the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), certification bodies, and leading training institutions such as NIHOTOUR and NCAT.

This collaboration, stakeholders said, is vital for enhancing service quality and aligning operations with global best practices.Participants also underscored the importance of standardizing operational guidelines across the tourism and transportation value chain, increasing investment in transportation infrastructure, and developing tourist destinations through public-private partnerships built on strong synergistic frameworks.

On tourism development, the summit stressed the need for a renewed focus on community-based tourism at the grassroots level, where most of Nigeria’s tourism wealth is located. It urged the federal and state governments to work closely with local governments and community leaders to upgrade tourist sites, strengthen heritage management and empower local stakeholders to drive tourism business sustainably.

The communique also called for the revitalization of Local Government Tourism Committees to ensure inclusive participation in tourism activities. It emphasized the importance of developing quality infrastructure—especially transportation, described as the “lifeline of the industry”—to enhance the tourism value chain, stimulate local economies, and promote cultural preservation and national heritage.

The resolutions emerged from expert presentations and panel discussions aligned with the Summit’s theme: “Tourism–Transportation Connectivity: Accelerating Synergy for National Socio-Economic Growth and Development.”

Speakers addressed key sub-themes including:Standards and Policies for Sustainable Tourism and Transportation DevelopmentDriving Economic Growth through Private Sector ParticipationDestination Development and Human Capital Capacity Building.

Community-Based and Inclusive Tourism for Social Integration and EmpowermentUnlocking Investment Opportunities in Tourism Transport Corridors

Sustainable Marine Resource Management for Blue Economy Growth.

Participating organizations and agencies that presented papers at NTTSummit 2025 included: the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), National College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), and the Chartered Institute of Transport Administration (CIoTA), among others.

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