Featured

Nigerian Athletes Challenges World Best Japan In ICE Winter Youth Olympic By Fely Mammah Nwokorie

Published

6 months ago

January 22, 2024

The Curling Ice Youth Winter Olympic Game is currently going on in Gangeung in South Korea, Seoul and it will last from the 19th to the 29th of January, 2024.

The Honourable Minister of Sports Development Sen. John Owan Enoh who witnessed the event in South Korea on the 19th of January, said that he is proud of the Nigerian team whose determination and participation in the game for the first time in the history of sports necessitated the country’s representation in Korea.

While commending the spirit of oneness that he saw in the team, especially their coordination by the Curling President who single handedly discovered the sports and athelets, the minister assured them that “The President of Nigeria Sen. Ahmed Bola Tinubu is solidly behind you, loves Sports and ready to support Sports”.

Sen. Enoh emphatically said that he is proud on them for dearing the Europeans in their game of Ice Curling during Winter and participating in Youth Olympic Game for the first time. Sen. Enoh said that for them to challenges Japanese athletes who happen to be the second best in the world, speaks volumes of the fact that Nigeria has enormous talents in sports that if natured properly, will bring glory to the country and as well, put them on podium performance.

“They have been the center of attraction in the game” the Hon. Minister said as he observed that other countries attention were on six Nigerian atheletes who were participating with significant zeal among the one hundred and seventeen countries that featured to compete in the Olympic Championship.

He however, assured both the athelets and President of Curling federation of every support that will make their World Body give them the deserved recognition particularly when Nigerian is the only African country to be a member of Curling Winter Ice Federation and also, as europeans have seen our countries love for their sports even when Nigeria has no Ice and stronge Winter.

Further more, the Minister reminded them that “They are treasure and pride of our country, you should continue to make the name of the country vibrate in this tournament”. Senator Enoh encouraged them to be proud of themselves and remain confident despite their no. He further Challenged them to emulate Kamsi Dike Chukwu who broke a record in 2022 by being the youngest 10 year old player during Curling Ice International Championship.

Sen. Enoh extended his sports hand of fellowship to both the Presidents of African Nation Olympic Committee Association (ANOCA) Mr. Mustapha Barack and the President of International Olympic Committee (IOC) Dr. Thomas Bach whom he paid courtesy call. Both Presidents not withstanding, expressed recognition of the country’s dedication to excel in all areas of sporting activities.

According to them in their unanimous opinion, Nigeria is fast distinguishing her self in sports related events. They were amazed that amidst other African countries, only Nigeria flag is raised for mandatory recognition during Ice Curling competitions. They pledged to synergise their relation with both the Ministry and the NOC in areas that would support the growth sports.

President of the Curling Federation Mr Daniel Damola in his response, disclosed that Nigerian government supported his growth through sports thus, his reason for given back to the same government through sports.

Speaking, he stated that Curling originated from Scotland but domiciled only in countries with Ice Winter. Mr. Damola further said that he knows that Nigerians excel any where they find themselves and that he was not discouraged in the discovering of this sports.

The President still revealed that he gathers his athletes in Nigeria and sponsors them to Germany Italy, Finland and Russia for trainings that qualified them to participate for the first time in the on going Youth Winter Olympic Game which is strictly between the ages of 15- 17 years. Nigerian athletes are participating in the different categories which comprises of Mix-events 2boys and 2 girls, Mix-Double 1boy and 1 girl.

The Honourable Minister John Owan Enoh attended the event in the full compliment of the President of the Nigerian Olympics Committee Engr. Habu Gumel and some of his technical staff, President of athletes in the Nigerian Olympic Commission who also doubles as the vice Chairman of Nigerian Olympic Committee Mr. Olumide Oyedeji, Staff of the Ministry in Grassroot Department and a Press Officer.

Fely Mammah NwokoriePress Officer22nd January, 2024

Share on Facebook

Featured

NAPTIP Restates Commitment To Fighting Human Trafficking

Published

2 days ago

July 25, 2024

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

… decries corruption in law enforcement, weak legislation

The Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Prof. Fatima Waziri-Azi, has pledged the agency’s commitment to fight human trafficking.

Waziri-Azi gave the assurance during an anti-corruption radio program, PUBLIC CONSCIENCE, produced by the Progressive Impact Organization for Community Development, PRIMORG, in Abuja.

The commitment by NAPTIP follows an investigative report by Human Angle Media exposing how many Nigerians trafficked to Egypt are inhumanely treated and exploited by their sponsors.

Represented by the agency’s Director of Public Enlightenment, Mrs. Kehinde Akomolafe, decried the rising number of Nigerians who are victims of trafficking, pledging that “NAPTIP is fighting on all sides to curb human trafficking.”

Akomolafe disclosed that the agency is aware of the report of Nigerians trafficked to Egypt and has already commenced interventions to rescue them while warning citizens to be wary of “offers that are too good to be true.”

She identified weak legislation, lengthy judicial processes, and corrupt law enforcement officials as factors aiding and abetting trafficking in Nigeria and elsewhere in the world.

“Corruption is endemic and cuts across other countries of the world, and that’s why trafficking is easily perpetrated in Nigeria and around the globe. You find law enforcement officials aiding and abetting traffickers. Some of them know these traffickers from their operations either at the entry or exit point. They give them something or become too familiar with them.

“Apart from the bribery aspect, we also have officials turning a blind eye to trafficking activities, and that’s why for us at the agency (NAPTIP), we are not resting.”

According to her, the agency, from inception, secured 672 convictions, 67 in 2023, and 35 persons so far this year (2024). She added that “NAPTIP is winning the war against trafficking but still wants stiffer punishment for traffickers and the support of the judiciary in hastening cases.

“weak legislation is aiding trafficking. That’s why the agency continues pushing for amendments. Currently, NAPTIP is pushing for stiffer punishment against traffickers that will lead to confiscation of their monies and property.

“NAPTIP Director-General (Prof. Fatima Waziri-Azi) is fighting on all sides against human trafficking.

“Where law enforcement officials are found complicit, NAPTIP Director-General does not take it lightly; she doesn’t compromise her anti-corruption stance even when a staff is involved,” Akomolafe stated.

According to the Editor of Southern Operations, Human Angle Media, Kabir Adejumo, many Nigerians trafficked to Egypt engage in forced labour. They are also living in fear as authorities go after illegal immigrants.

Adejumo said victims interviewed during the investigation are willing and interested in returning home, but their sponsors refuse to release their travel passports and threaten to implicate them.

He also revealed that the NAPTIP and Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) are aware of the plight of Nigerians trafficked in Egypt and have currently rescued one person.

On her part, the Programme Manager of the Human Angle Foundation, Angela Umoro-David, expressed satisfaction at NAPTIP’s response to trafficking cases while urging the agency to stay on course with their mandate.

Umoro-David called on Nigerians to use a Freedom of Information platform (foi.humananglemedia.com) to help citizens navigate requests for public records from different government parastatals and agencies.

She stressed that the platform “is a website where people can submit their FOI requests to us (Human Angle), and we’ll submit it on their behalf to the particular agency. So we act as middlemen, connecting these government parastatals to the citizens”.

Public Conscience is a syndicated weekly anti-corruption radio program PRIMORG uses to draw government and citizens’ attention to corruption and integrity issues in Nigeria.

The program has the support of the MacArthur Foundation

Share on Facebook