Sports

Paris 2024: Sports Minister Steps up Olympic Games Preparations with Inauguration of Ministerial Strategic Committee

Published

2 weeks ago

November 15, 2023

Joel Ajayi

As Team Nigeria gears up towards the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, the Honorable Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, on Wednesday, took a significant step towards ensuring the country’s exceptional outing on the global stage, as he inaugurated the Ministerial Strategic Committee at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

In an assertive move towards meticulous planning and strategic execution, the Committee will spearhead Nigeria’s preparations for the upcoming Games.
The inauguration of this Committee underscores the Minister’s unwavering commitment to fostering excellence in sports and providing the necessary support to Nigeria’s athletes.

Led by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar, the Committee comprises distinguished members renowned for their expertise and passion for sports development.

The Minister stated that the strategic committee is entrusted with the crucial task of orchestrating crucial plans towards a successful Olympic Games appearance.
“In order to ensure adequate preparations and effective participation of Team Nigeria at the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, The Federal Ministry of Sports Development has therefore constituted the Ministerial Strategic Committee to recommend strategies and modalities towards a successful outing of Nigeria at both Games, the Minister stated.

“This Committee is made up of eminently qualified Nigerians who have served this country in various capacities. They were carefully selected based on their track record and relevant experiences.

The Minister reeled out the terms of reference of the committee charging them to discharge their responsibility for the collective good of the country, including determining shared objectives/targets and reviewing performances of National Sports Federations vis-a-viz the medals projections for each sport.

With Nigeria’s best olympic appearance dating back to the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games, the Minister charged the Committee to surpass Team Nigeria’s medal haul of 1996, where Nigeria won gold medals in football and long jump, amongst other medals.

“As you go on to perform this critical national assignment, I want to urge the members of the committee to exert positive energy, intellect and experience to ensure that Nigeria surpasses its previous performance at the Games,” Senator Enoh said.

The committee comprises: Alh. Ismaila Abubakar as chairman, and Amaka Ashiofu as Member/Secretary.

Other members include: Dr. Paul Onyeudo, Mr. Patrick Okeke, Mrs. Thecia Opara, Engr. Abolore Alanamu, Mr. Olufehinti Olusegun, Mr. Tunde Popoola, Mr. Suleiman Issa, Mr. Olumide bamiduro, Mr. Brendan Ndifon, Prince Ebuta Ayuk, Barr. Danladi Ibrahim, and Mr. Abubakaar Waziri.

Speaking after the Committee’s inauguration, chairman, Alh. Abubakar stated that the team will do its best to make Nigeria proud, as it will work meticulously to ensure smooth preparations and execution of all plans. He said they will leave no stone unturned to deliver on all terms of reference assigned to them.

With qualifying series for Paris 2024 still on across various sports, eight Nigerian athletes have already qualified for the Games thus far – 3 track and field athletes, 3 boxers, one wrestler, and one cyclist. In the coming weeks, this number will increase significantly, as more qualifying tournaments are concluded.

For the Paralympic Games, the country has picked two tickets in para-athletics, 9 in para-table tennis, while 8 athletes are currently on the pathway to qualification in para-powerlifting.

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Sports

DG NYSC Urges Corps Members On Peaceful Co-Existence

Published

5 hours ago

November 29, 2023

The Gleamer

….As Abia Swears-in 1,698 PCMs
The Director General of National Youth Service Corps, Brigadier General YD Ahmed has advised Corps Members to live in peace with one another, make new friends and use the opportunities of the service year to foster national unity and integration.

He gave the advise in his address to the 2023 Batch ‘C’ Stream Two Corps Members during his visit to Abia State Orientation Camp in Umuna, Bende Local Government Area of the State.

General Ahmed said the Scheme was established to foster national unity and integration, hence the need for all serving and prospective Corps Members to key into the NYSC project for national development.

Speaking further, the Director General warned the Corps Members against night travelling and also travelling without obtaining permission from the Scheme. He warned that unauthorized travelling attracts sanctions in line with NYSC byelaws.

The Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti in his address at the Swearing-in Ceremony urged the Corps Members to utilize the abundant opportunities around them to develop themselves and also use them to contribute their quota to the socio-economic development of the State.

The Governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Sir Nwobilor Ananaba promised his continuous support for the NYSC in Abia State.

He advised the Corps Members to abide by the tenets of their Oath of Allegiance and conduct themselves as good ambassadors of their families, institutions and NYSC during and after their service year.

In her address, the NYSC Abia State Coordinator, Mrs Dick-Iruenabere Ufoma urged the Corps Members to participate fully in all Orientation Camp activities, as they would serve as veritable tools in the dissemination of information and aid the implementation of the laudable policies of the State Government.

“The NYSC Management will give you the necessary support to make the desired impact. The Scheme also aims at inculcating discipline in our youths and instilling in them the spirit of patriotism and loyal service to the nation.

You must obey all camp officials and no form of insubordination, truancy, including drug abuse and secret cult activities will be tolerated in camp and throughout the service year”, she said.

During the ceremony, the Abia State Chief Judge, Justice Lilian Abai represented by Justice Anya Benson administered the Oath of Allegiance on the 1,698 Prospective Corps Members made up of 891 males and 807 females.

General Ahmed, who was among the dignitaries that witnessed the Swearing-in Ceremony was accompanied by the Director, Special Duties, Alhaji Musa Abubakar and Director Press and Public Relations, Mr Eddy Megwa.

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