Sports

NSC Applauds Young Sporting Talents in Abuja, Asaba During Appreciation Tour

Published

7 months ago

March 11, 2026

Joel Ajayi

The National Sports Commission (NSC) has continued its nationwide Youth Appreciation Tour with the recognition of outstanding young athletes in Abuja and Asaba, bringing the total number of honourees so far to eleven.

The Abuja leg of the appreciation tour took place on Wednesday at the Nigerian Tulip International College, with the Chairman of the NSC, Mallam Shehu Dikko, Director General Hon. Bukola Olopade, and former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, now Presidential Spokesman, Hon. Sunday Dare, in attendance.

Speaking at the Abuja event, Hon. Sunday Dare expressed satisfaction with the progress being made in youth sports development.

“I’m excited because what is being done align with the universal laws of sowing as we know it – find promising stars early, nurture them and then the harvest comes. We have continued to partner with the private sector, and the seeds we sowed four years ago are what we are harvesting today. Credit must go to the Chairman and Director General of the National Sports Commission for their insight and commitment to sustaining this vision,” he said.

Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, reaffirmed that youth and grassroots sports remain central to the Commission’s mandate.

“Youth and grassroots development are at the core of what we do. We want to raise the standards of school sports and ensure that schools at all levels, primary, secondary and universities, receive the necessary support to discover and nurture athletes in collaboration with the National Sports Commission,” Dikko stated.

Director General of the NSC, Hon. Bukola Olopade, emphasized that the Commission is strengthening partnerships between schools and the sports ecosystem while prioritizing athlete welfare.

“We will continue to encourage strong relationships between schools and sports. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has always made it clear that Nigerian athletes must never feel abandoned or neglected, and that is the commitment of this Commission,” Hon. Olopade said.

Hon. Sunday Dare had previously signed a landmark partnership with Nigerian Tulip International College during his tenure as Sports Minister, a collaboration that continues to support youth sports development.

Among the athletes honoured in Abuja were Rosemary Chigozie Nwankwo and Miracle Oluebube Ezechukwu, two exceptional junior athletes who first emerged through the invited junior athletes initiative.

Both athletes progressed to represent Nigeria at the CAA African U18/U20 Athletics Championships, where they won gold medals for the country, before going on to secure additional medals at the African Youth Games in Angola and African Schhool Games in Algeria.

Other beneficiaries of the appreciation programme included taekwondo athletes Crown Umeh and Unique Umeh, who received ₦1 million each in recognition of their performances. Unique Umeh had earlier secured a bronze medal at the maiden African School Games in Algeria.

In athletics, Andrew Miracle Yemi, an African Junior standout, received ₦2 million in appreciation of his achievements. Adaeze Precious was also honoured with ₦1 million, while Rosemary Chigozie Nwankwo received ₦3 million for her outstanding performances.

Miracle Ezechukwu, the West African champion and Nigerian champion, was also recognised with a ₦3 million reward for his remarkable accomplishments.

Simultaneously, another NSC team carried out a similar recognition event in Asaba, Delta State. The team was led by the Director of Grassroots Development, Chief Amaka Ashiofu, alongside the Director of FEADS, Madam Mbora Ikana, where promising athletes and medal winners, Udoh David and Gowon Oghenerunor were also honoured.

The Youth Appreciation Tour will continue in Uyo on Thursday, where the Commission is scheduled to honour additional junior sports stars as part of the NSC’s commitment to grassroots sports development.

The NSC Youth Appreciation Tour is part of the Commission’s broader strategy to support and reward emerging talents while strengthening the foundation of Nigerian sports through structured grassroots development

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Sports

AACT 2026: 31 Days to Africa’s Big Sporting Gathering in Abuja

Published

1 hour ago

October 2, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The countdown to the 2026 All Africa Challenge Trophy (AACT) has officially entered the final month, with just 31 days to go before Africa’s leading women’s team golf championship tees off at the IBB International Golf & Country Club in Abuja.

In a statement signed by the AACT 2026Director of Communication Kayode Adeniyi on Friday in Abuja.

Under the theme “Africa Is Coming to Abuja,” the countdown campaign will spotlight the championship, the participating nations, the players, the host venue and the growing development of women’s golf across the continent.

The 2026 AACT, scheduled for November 2–7, will bring together women’s golfing talent from across Africa for six days of continental competition in Nigeria’s capital.

As preparations continue at the IBB International Golf & Country Club, attention is increasingly turning to Abuja, where the championship will provide a platform for African golfers to compete while also showcasing Nigeria’s hospitality and the country’s growing profile as a destination for major sporting events.

The countdown will feature daily stories, interviews, player and country profiles, tournament facts, behind-the-scenes updates and features on the host venue as the championship draws closer.

The campaign will also highlight the role of the Ladies Golf Association of Nigeria (LGAN), the Local Organising Committee and other stakeholders in preparing for the continental championship.

With just 31 days remaining, anticipation is building across the African golfing community as Abuja prepares to welcome the continent’s leading women golfers.

Africa is coming to Abuja.

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