Sports

NSC DG Olopade Awarded Southwest Sports Icon of the Year at 2025 Synergy Meritorious Award

Published

12 months ago

October 14, 2025

Joel Ajayi

The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, has been honoured with the prestigious Southwest Sports Icon of the Year Award at the 2025 edition of the Synergy Meritorious Awards.

The award recognizes Hon. Olopade’s outstanding and long-standing contributions to sports development across the Southwest region and Nigeria as a whole.

A tireless visionary, Hon. Olopade’s journey in sports leadership drew national applause as the Commissioner for Youth and Sports in Ogun State in 2006, a role he held with distinction for eight years. During his tenure, he introduced several groundbreaking initiatives that elevated youth and sports development across Ogun state and the Southwest region, setting the foundation for what has become a model of innovation in grassroots sports governance.

Beyond the public sector, Hon. Olopade continued his impact in the private sports industry, championing initiatives that bridged public-private partnerships and strengthened sports business ecosystems across Nigeria.

His efforts helped transform sports into a platform for empowerment, unity, and economic growth.

Today, as the Director General of the National Sports Commission, Hon. Olopade, working closely with the NSC Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, is leading a bold national drive to revitalize and professionalize the Nigerian sports industry. Under his leadership, the NSC has launched key reform initiatives aimed at repositioning sports as a major contributor to national development and economic diversification.

In his remarks, Hon. Olopade expressed deep appreciation to the organizers for the recognition, dedicating the honor to all stakeholders working to advance sports across Nigeria.

“This award is not just about me. It’s about every young athlete, coach, administrator, and supporter who believes in the power of sports to transform lives and build nations. I am deeply grateful for this recognition and remain committed to ensuring that Nigerian sports achieves its full potential,” he said.

Share on Facebook

Sports

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

Published

22 hours 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.

Share on Facebook