Sports
NSC DG Olopade Awarded Southwest Sports Icon of the Year at 2025 Synergy Meritorious Award
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.
Sports
AACT 2026: South Africa Lead as Nigeria Fifth After Day One
Joel Ajayi
The ongoing All Africa Challenge Trophy, AACT, currently ongoing in the IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja enters Day 2 today. At the end of Day 1, South Africa took an early lead with 154 strokes.
Kenya occupied second position with 158 strokes, while Tanzania placed third with 160 strokes after the opening round of the continental women’s golf championship.
Uganda finished fourth with 163 strokes, while Host Nigeria occupied fifth position with 166 strokes.
Zambia followed in sixth position with 167 strokes, ahead of Botswana, which returned 170 strokes to place seventh.
Ghana finished eighth with 172 strokes, while Zimbabwe and Tunisia occupied ninth and 10th positions with 174 and 176 strokes, respectively.
In the individual standings, South Africa’s Isabella Ferreira emerged as the Day One leader with four strokes over par (+4).
Ferreira, who expressed satisfaction with her opening-round performance, said she was encouraged by her start but remained focused on maintaining consistency.
“I’m happy with how I started the championship. The course demands concentration and patience, and I will continue to take each hole as it comes,” she said.
Kenya’s Kanana Muthomi followed closely in second position with five strokes over par (+5), while Uganda’s Keisha Kagoro occupied third position with six strokes over par (+6).
Kagoro said she was delighted with her start and determined to build on the performance.
“It is encouraging to begin the championship this way. I know the competition is strong, but I will stay focused, trust my game and work towards an even better performance,” she said.
South Africa’s Lourenda Steyn also returned six strokes over par to share third position with Kagoro.
Botswana’s Loapi Chokwe occupied fifth position with seven strokes over par (+7), while Tanzania’s Neema Olomi and Madina Iddy were tied on eight strokes over par (+8).
Kenya’s Bianca Ngecu and Kellie Gachaga returned nine strokes over par (+9) apiece.
Nigeria’s Juliana Ehinomhen finished among the leading 10 players, returning 10 strokes over par (+10) to occupy joint 10th position.
However, the Nigerian team will be seeking to improve its standing in the remaining rounds as competition intensifies among the participating countries. No fewer than 20 countries are participating in the championship, which features three rounds of 18 holes each, culminating in 54 holes.
It will be recalled that Nigeria’s First Lady and Grand Patron of AACT 2026, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, performed the ceremonial tee-off on Tuesday, November 3, signalling the commencement of the continental championship.
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