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Nigeria’s Celebration Of The Africa Youth Month Hits 2m Impressions Online In 4 Hours

Published

6 years ago

November 18, 2019

Joel Ajayi

While Twitter Nigeria was still enjoying the euphoria of the visit of Jack Dorsey, CEO of Twitter, to the country, an event of deeper significance took place and shook the social media world.

In its first major event since it got a new Minister, the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development hosted over a thousand youth to the 2019 edition of the Africa Youth Day at the Edmunds Multipurpose Event Center, Abuja, and it was a social media success with the official hashtag trending for hours during the event and well over 2,000,000 impressions on Twitter.

According to a report generated using the popular social media tool, TweetReach, the event was gathered that over 750,000 accounts were potentially reached with the hashtag #AYMNG2019. This was achieved without any advertisements or promotions.

According to the organizers, it was genuinely surprised that the event received so much positive response despite almost zero spendings on promotions.

“We simply relied on a proper social media strategy and the goodwill of young Twitter influencers,” said Kemi Areola, Special Assistant to the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare. “We had no funding for social media, so the Minister charged us to get creative. So, we made sure all the images we sent out before the event were well designed and sharable, and also reached out to our friends online. We got the support of the alumni of some of our partners and the corps members that attended as well. Throughout the event, we made sure we reminded everyone to tweet using the hashtag.

“It also helped that event was very engaging, educative and productive.”

November has been designated by the Africa Union as the Africa Youth Month. The Ministry chose 12th November to celebrate young Nigerians and Mr. Dare launched a strategic plan to train 200,000 youth via DEEL which stands for Digital skills, Entrepreneurship, Employment, and Leadership training.

The event was attended by a plethora of Ministers, youth organizations and the diplomatic corps. Football icon, Daniel ‘The Bull’ Amokachi, and Olympic gold medalist, Chioma Ajunwa, were also in attendance. Popular artiste, Faze, performed to the delight of all.

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Nigeria’s Historic Bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games: A Call for National and Global Support

Published

1 week 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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