Sports

NFF and Govt of Maryland agree to collaborate on development programmes

Published

5 years ago

July 1, 2021

The Nigeria Football Federation and the Government of Maryland have
highlighted and agreed on a number of co-operation programmes designed
to enhance the development of football in the country Nigeria and the
State of Maryland, an important mid-Atlantic State in the United
States of America.

At a meeting in Baltimore, Maryland on Wednesday, 30th June 2021,
President of the NFF and a Member of the FIFA Council, Mr Amaju Melvin
Pinnick and the Lieutenant Governor of Maryland, Boyd Rutherford
agreed on a number of collaborative areas including but not limited to
minimum of one friendly match with Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Super
Falcons in FIFA window opportunities; utilization of the platform to
create a symbiotic economic relationship in broader areas of economic
development; leveraging of the Baltimore-Maryland 2026 platform/assets
to create added value for NFF Sponsors for broader activations; focus
on youth development programmes and; the development of a formal
sister city relations to cover football development and stadium
management.

Baltimore, the largest city in the State of Maryland, is a candidate
city for hosting of matches of the 48 –team 2026 FIFA World Cup
finals, which has already been awarded to the triumvirate of USA,
Mexico and Canada.

Pinnick, who was in Baltimore on a specific invitation by the
Government of Maryland, said he was enthusiastic about the agreement
and wished Baltimore-Maryland good luck in its desire to be a Host
City for the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals. The invite was premised on
the enormous respect that the Government of Maryland has for Nigeria
as a nation and the NFF as an institution. Lieutenant Governor
Rutherford confessed to being a great fan of the Super Eagles, who
dazzled the world in an impressive debut at the FIFA World Cup in the
USA 27 years ago, while the Nigeria U23 squad (with many players of
the same Super Eagles’ team), spectacularly won Africa’s first Olympic
football gold also in the USA two years later.

The meeting was foregrounded by the Super Falcons’ debut in the
popular USWNT Summer Series with matches in the State of Texas, where
the nine-time African champions squared up to four-time world
champions and four-time Olympic champions USA for the first time in a
friendly match, and actually mounted a spirited fight despite losing
0-2. It also came three days before the Nigeria National Team’s clash
with Mexico’s Senior Team in another friendly in the State of
California.

The occasion equally held against the background of the fact that in a
post-pandemic world, strategic partnerships, collaborations and
symbiotic relationships will rule the roost. Both Pinnick and
Rutherford were sanguine about the incipient relationship fanning out
to the wider canvass of concrete economic and infrastructural
benefits.

Also present at the meeting were Terry Hasseltine (President of
Baltimore-Maryland 2026 World Cup Host Candidate City); Bunmi Jinadu
(Special Advisor, Baltimore-Maryland 2026); Mark Newgent (Deputy Chief
of Staff to Maryland Lt. Governor); Al Hutchinson (President, Visit
Baltimore); Ted Carter (Baltimore City’s Deputy Mayor for Community
and Economic Development); Michael Huber (Chief of Staff to Baltimore
Mayor Brandon Scott); Graham Whaples (Media Relations,
Baltimore-Maryland 2026); Michael J. Frenz (Executive Director,
Maryland Stadium Authority) and; Roy Sommerhof (Senior Vice President,
Stadium Operations).

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Sports

NSC DG, Olopade Celebrates Nigeria at 66, Assures of More Progressive Sports Development Under President Tinubu

Published

20 hours ago

October 1, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, has congratulated Nigerians as the nation celebrates its 66th Independence Anniversary, describing the milestone as a reflection of Nigeria’s resilience, unity and remarkable capacity to excel on the global stage, particularly through sports.

Hon. Olopade said Nigeria at 66 is an occasion every Nigerian should be proud of, noting that despite the challenges encountered over the years, the country has continued to make significant progress and produce achievements capable of inspiring generations.

The DG said the sports sector has particular reasons to celebrate, pointing to a series of performances and milestones by Nigerian athletes and teams across the global sporting landscape.

“Today, we celebrate the resilience of our people, the strength of our unity and our belief in the promise of our great country, especially through sports.

“As we raise our flag with pride, may we remain committed to building a nation where every Nigerian has the opportunity to dream, thrive and succeed.”

Hon. Olopade said the progress being witnessed in Nigerian sports aligns with the vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and the Renewed Hope Initiative for Nigeria Sports Development (RHINSE), which he said is focused on creating a stronger and more sustainable pathway for athletes, while positioning sports as a tool for national development, youth empowerment and global recognition.

He pointed to Nigeria’s outstanding performance at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games as one of the latest examples of the country’s sporting potential. Team Nigeria returned from Glasgow with 24 medals, comprising 10 gold, seven silver and seven bronze, finishing seventh overall and as the highest-ranked African nation at the Games. The campaign also produced three world records and a number of historic milestones across para powerlifting, athletics, weightlifting, para athletics and judo.

Among the standout performances was that of Team Nigeria captain Folashade Oluwafemiayo, who won gold in para powerlifting and twice broke the world record during the competition, ultimately lifting 175kg. Goodness Nwachukwu also successfully defended her Commonwealth title in the women’s para discus and set a new world record, while Nigeria recorded historic Commonwealth gold medals through Samuel Ogazi in the men’s 400m, Ezekiel Nathaniel in the men’s 400m hurdles and Chukwuebuka Enekwechi in the men’s shot put.

“Today, Nigeria is a global force in para-sports, and athletes such as Folashade Oluwafemiayo and Goodness Nwachukwu continue to demonstrate the extraordinary talent and determination that exist within our country,” Hon. Olopade said.

He also celebrated the continued dominance of D’Tigress, Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, which in 2025 became the first nation to win five consecutive FIBA Women’s AfroBasket titles after defeating Mali 78-64 in the final in Abidjan in the last edition. The achievement extended Nigeria’s unbeaten run in the competition to 29 games and secured qualification for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup pathway.

On the global athletics scene, Hon. Olopade highlighted the continued excellence of Tobi Amusan and the emergence of a new generation of Nigerian sprinters. Amusan won silver in the women’s 100m hurdles at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest in September 2026, clocking 12.34 seconds in the final, while Kayinsola Ajayi added another significant milestone by winning Commonwealth bronze in the men’s 100m and helping Nigeria to bronze in the men’s 4x100m relay in Glasgow.

Nigeria’s football heritage, Hon. Olopade noted, remains another major source of national pride. The country holds the record for the most FIFA U-17 World Cup titles, with five championships won by the Golden Eaglets in 1985, 1993, 2007, 2013 and 2015.

He also pointed to the country’s growing influence in emerging sports, including flag football. Nigeria made history by winning both the men’s and women’s titles at the inaugural IFAF Africa Flag Football Championship in Cairo in 2025, earning qualification for the 2026 IFAF Flag Football World Championships ahead of the sport’s Olympic debut at Los Angeles 2028.

“These achievements across athletics, para-sports, basketball, football, weightlifting, flag football and other sports remind us that Nigeria possesses immense sporting talent,” the DG said.

“From our champions who continue to break world records to our young athletes who are announcing themselves on the international stage, the Nigerian flag continues to fly with pride around the world. This is why the development of sports must remain a national priority. Our responsibility is not only to celebrate champions after they emerge, but to build the systems, facilities, competitions and opportunities that allow more young Nigerians to become champions.”

“As we celebrate 66 years of our independence, we celebrate Nigeria’s past, but we must also look confidently toward the future. Our athletes have shown us what is possible when talent meets opportunity, preparation and support. The task before us is to ensure that more Nigerians have that opportunity,” the DG added.

“On behalf of the National Sports Commission, I wish all Nigerians a happy 66th Independence Anniversary. May our great nation continue to grow in strength, unity, prosperity and sporting excellence,” Hon. Olopade concluded.

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