Sports

Onikeku Re-elected to Represent Military and Paramilitary on AFN Board

Published

5 months ago

June 6, 2025

By Joel Ajayi

Renowned athletics administrator and Sports Secretary of the Nigeria Customs Service, Samuel Onikeku, has been re-elected as the Military and Paramilitary Representative on the board of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN).

The election, held at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, brought together key stakeholders from Nigeria’s military and paramilitary sporting units.

Onikeku, who served as Technical Director on the outgoing AFN board and previously held the same representative position, was returned unopposed — a clear endorsement of his leadership and unwavering commitment to the development of athletics within the armed services and beyond..

Speaking shortly after his re-election on Thursday, Onikeku expressed gratitude to his colleagues for the renewed mandate, promising to continue championing the interests of military and paramilitary athletes within the AFN framework.“I am honored by this re-election and deeply appreciate the confidence reposed in me. My focus will remain on fostering discipline, excellence, and opportunity for athletes across all services, while strengthening synergy with the civilian athletics community,” he stated.

Onikeku, who also serves as the Sports Secretary of the Nigeria Customs Service, has been instrumental in discovering and nurturing top talent from military and paramilitary institutions to represent Nigeria at national and international competitions.

His leadership is credited with improving coordination between the Nigeria Customs Service, other sports units, and the AFN, while also driving initiatives aimed at identifying and grooming young athletes from security formations.

The AFN board, which includes representatives from various zones, stakeholders, and institutional blocs, plays a key role in shaping the strategic direction of track and field sports in Nigeria. With his re-election, Onikeku is expected to continue leveraging his experience, discipline, and structured leadership to further reposition athletics as a vital pillar of Nigeria’s sporting success.

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Sports

From Streets to Stardom: Unique Futbol Academy Scouting Program Inspires Ibadan’s Young Footballers

Published

15 hours ago

November 4, 2025

The Gleamer

Ibadan is buzzing with excitement as the Unique Football Academy Scouting Program kicks off, bringing together top European football clubs and talented young Nigerian players.

The four-day program, which commenced on Monday, features a delegation of four directors from prominent European teams, including two from Kosovo and one from India, led by renowned football agent Diego Martins from Portugal.

The scouting program aims to identify and select outstanding players who will be given opportunities to showcase their skills in Europe.

Successful players will be offered the chance to take their careers to the next level, with the organizers assuring them of opportunities abroad.

According to the Director of the program and founder of Unique Football Academy, Mr. Jelil Oladimeji, this is not the first time the academy has organized such an event.

“This is the 4th edition, and we are proud of the progress and impact we have made so far in terms of exposing our raw talent to the European market,” he said.

The program has already proven successful, with several players from previous editions going on to excel in European leagues. Some notable examples include Haruna Saleh with PAOK in Greece and Praisegod Emersons in Slovakia.

As the program continues, clubs are gearing up to exhibit their talents, and the future looks bright for Nigeria’s young football stars.

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