Featured

Onikeku seeks more sponsors for age grade competition

Published

6 years ago

August 10, 2019

…Thumbs up NVF Grassroot initiative, says future is bright for Nigeria’s Volleyball

Joel Ajayi

The Sports Secretary for the Nigeria Custom Service, Samuel Onikeku has said that more age grade engagement and sponsor at the grassrot level in Nigeria will be a thriving tool for the growth of the sports especially volleyball game in the country.

He made this revelation on Saturday in Abuja at the 1st edition of the “Nimrod 300” summer talents volleyball inter-academy clinic and competition.

Onikeku who has been the forces behind the successes recorded so far by the Nigerian custom service team in volleyball thump up the Nimrod led volleyball federation board for their unrelent effort to the growth of the game in the country.

According to him, when I took my team to Egypt, I saw that every area there were age group players playing Volleyball, we saw 5, 7 and 10 years group all of them playing volleyball that is why those countries are a little bit ahead of us but as we started this initiative, I believe that volleyball will come up in Nigeria.

“And it will be better, if more people come to sponsor event like this, no doubt such program will definetly take the youth off the street, the crime and insecurity issues will come down. Many of them have talents but if we don’t engage them they will be consituting nursance. So, I am encouraging those who are a little bit comfortable to put little 100 of thousand into sport to encourage youth and support an initiative like this (Nimrood 300 kids initiative.)

“Even if you don’t want to sponsor all the event, donation of balls, donation of kits to the younger one to encourage them and at the Long run it will grow the country.

“The future is very bright for volleyball in Nigeria, because for the past two years beach volleyball, indoor volleyball is going on well in the country.” He said

Speaking on the beneft snow volleybal tournament which Customs team participated, Onikeku said that the tournament was added advantage to Nigeria as players got exposure.

“It was a good experience for them to go there and defeated Argentina that finally play third in the competition even though the weather condition was against them. I thanked the president for encouraged them, sponsored them to Argentina to go and get that desire experience and exposure in the next two years snow volleyball will come up and with experience they have gathered I believe that in Africa we will be able to go far.

“Nigeria is the only country in Africa that got to the second round. I believe the experience will help our team to perform better when snow volleyball we come too Africa. He assured.

Share on Facebook

Featured

Nigeria’s Historic Bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games: A Call for National and Global Support

Published

6 days ago

September 30, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

Nigeria is poised to make history as it seeks to host the Centenary Commonwealth Games in 2030, a monumental opportunity that promises to transform the nation’s economy, infrastructure, and global standing.

More than a sporting spectacle, the Games would serve as a catalyst for development across multiple sectors, leaving behind a legacy of national pride and sustainable growth.

The benefits of hosting the Games extend far beyond the sports arena. Nigeria stands to gain both empirical and non-empirical advantages, with direct, indirect, and induced impacts that will touch every corner of society. Infrastructural development will take center stage, with new facilities such as indoor sports halls, conference centers, and improved road networks reshaping urban landscapes while strengthening the nation’s capacity to host future international events.

Economic growth is another significant dividend. Over 10,000 jobs are expected to be created, spanning construction, facility management, event planning, and tourism services.

The hospitality industry will undergo major improvements as hotels and resorts are upgraded to meet international standards, while local restaurants, lounges, and tourist attractions will see a surge in patronage from international visitors. Small and medium enterprises, particularly in the transport, finance, and food service sectors, will become some of the greatest beneficiaries, as the Games generate new demand and expand opportunities for local businesses.
The Commonwealth Games will also accelerate the growth of Nigeria’s sports industry.

Investments in training facilities, coaching, and talent development will inspire a new generation of athletes, ensuring long-term benefits that extend beyond 2030, a major focus of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
At the same time, the process of preparing for the Games will create opportunities for Nigerians to learn new crafts, acquire technical skills, and engage in global-standard event management, thereby strengthening human capacity and innovation across industries.

Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the Nigeria Sports Commission, and Hon. Bukola Olopade, the Director General, have been widely recognized for their tireless and visionary leadership in repositioning Nigeria’s sporting sector.

Their commitment to facilitating infrastructural development and strengthening grassroots sports development has laid the foundation for Nigeria’s bold bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Under their leadership, the NSC is fostering strategic partnerships and driving innovation in sports administration, they have demonstrated the nation’s readiness to stage an event of such global magnitude.

Beyond the tangible gains, the hosting of the 2030 Commonwealth Games carries profound symbolic value. It would be a moment of unity and pride, a chance for Nigeria to showcase its cultural richness, resilience, and excellence to the world.
As a centenary edition, the Games would stand as a historic milestone not just for the Commonwealth but for Nigeria itself, cementing its place on the global stage as a capable, ambitious, and forward-looking nation.

The gains from hosting the Commonwealth Games can never be undermined or overemphasized. This is Nigeria’s time to step forward and show the world our resilience, and excellence. We call on every Nigerian, across sectors and communities, to support this noble aspiration.

Nigeria’s pursuit of the 2030 Commonwealth Games is a vision for transformation, a blueprint for national development, and a legacy project that will inspire generations to come.

Share on Facebook