Sports
NOC President Gumel Hails NSC Leadership as Nigerian Athletes Shine at African Youth Games
Joel Ajayi
The President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Engr. Habu Gumel, has lauded the leadership of the National Sports Commission (NSC) for its sustained investment in youth development, noting that the strategy is already delivering positive results.
Engr. Gumel made the remarks at El dorado Beach Park in Luanda, Angola, after Nigeria’s Beach Volleyball team defeated Egypt 2–0 to clinch the gold medal at the ongoing 2025 Africa Youth Games.
He described the Africa Youth Games—an initiative of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA)—as a vital grassroots development platform designed to “catch them young” and prepare athletes for future national and international assignments.
“The Youth Games are very important because they serve as a foundation for grassroots sports development. Through this programme, young talents are identified early and groomed for the national level,” Gumel said.
Expressing delight over Nigeria’s strong participation and success, the NOC President noted that the Beach Volleyball gold medal was a clear indication of the country’s growing strength in youth sports.
“We are happy that Nigeria is participating actively, and our team has just won gold in Beach Volleyball. I watched these athletes earlier at the Islamic Games in Saudi Arabia, and seeing their progress now makes us very proud,” he added.
Engr. Gumel further attributed the bright future of Nigerian sports to the effective leadership of the National Sports Commission, praising both the Chairman and the Director-General for their vision and commitment.
“The future of sports in Nigeria is very bright. This progress would not have been possible without the leadership of the National Sports Commission.
The Chairman and the Director-General are doing an excellent job, and their efforts are clearly reflected in these achievements,” he concluded.
Sports
Niger Delta Games: Cross River Poised To Raise Future Stars
Chairman of the Cross River State Sports Commission, Mr. Lawrence Itanya has commended the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for supporting young sports men and women in the region through the Niger Delta Games.
Itanya applauded the initiative while receiving the representative of Dunamis Icon Limited, the Project Consultants, and expressed the state’s readiness to take advantage of the games to identify and groom young athletes.
“On behalf of His Excellency, Apostle Prince Bassey Edet Otu, and the good people of Cross River State, I welcome you to the carnival city of Calabar. We deeply appreciate the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and Dunamis Icon for initiating an innovative platform designed to discover, nurture, and project young sporting talents from the Niger Delta region to the global stage”, Itanya said while receiving Fred Edoreh, the Project Director who represented the Chairman of Dunamis Icon, Sir Itiako Ikpokpo KSM, at the inauguration of the State Liaison Committee on Monday.
Preparations for the games has evidently heightened as sporting facilities, including the Olympic-standard swimming pool has been renovated.
The Cross River State Liaison Committee will be led by Mr. Itanya, who will oversee the coordination of the state’s preparations and participation ahead of the Edo 2026 Games.
Members of the committee include Hon. Queen Gladys Igut (Commissioner I), Mrs. Rosemary Usang (Director, Sports Commission), Mr. Ettah Emmanuel O. (Media Coordinator, and
Mr. David Enwa (Assistant Stadium Manager).
Speaking during the ceremony, Edoreh thanked the Government of Cross River State for the warm reception and support.
He formally inducted members of the liaison committee and outlined their responsibilities, noting that the committee is to work closely with the Cross River State Sports Commission to coordinate pre-games activities, including grassroots talent discovery, athlete screening, and logistical planning ahead of the Games proper.
The ancient city of Calabar, widely celebrated as the birthplace of football and several other sports in Nigeria, has once again assumed a prominent position in national sports development as preparations gather momentum for the 2nd edition of the Niger Delta Games, Edo 2026.
The inauguration represents a significant milestone in the build-up to what is projected to be one of Nigeria’s biggest and most exciting sporting events.
The official inauguration at the Olympic-standard swimming pool underscores Cross River State’s commitment to sports excellence and grassroots development, while reaffirming the collective resolve of all stakeholders to ensure a successful outing at the 2nd Niger Delta Games.
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