Sports
Paris 2024: We Want Team Nigeria To Surpass 1996 record-House Committee On Sports

Joel Ajayi
The House Committee on Sports has called on the Nigerian Olympic Committee NoC to step up athletes’ preparations to bring a superlative outing in the forthcoming 2024 Olympics in Paris and surpass the Atlanta 1996 feat.
Speaking on Thursday at the National Assembly complex when the Nigerian Olympics Committee appeared before the committee, the House Committee Chairman Hon. Ekene Adam expressed that the reason for the invitation is to know how prepared and how ready the NOC is regarding the forthcoming 2024 Olympics Paris.
“We invited the NOC to know the level of preparedness for the Olympic Games if there is any challenge they are facing, and how we can help them solve it so that Nigerian athletes will have total focus when competing for medals. We want to do everything possible to make sure that Nigeria records the best performance in France.
“We have identified funding as a major challenge and one of the ways to solve the problem is to sponsor a bill where the budget for preparations of athletes for Olympic Games will be captured each year.
“The funds will then be disbursed to the Sports Federations by the Ministry to ease their tasks when chasing qualification tickets in different international competitions across the world.”
However, the Chairman House Committee on Sports, Hon Ekene Adams along with the members of the Committee proposed that a bill be sponsored where funds will be captured in the annual budget of the Sports Ministry and distributed to different Sports Federations for better preparations of Nigerian athletes.
In his comment, the President of the Nigeria Olympics Committee (NOC) Engineer Habu Gummel revealed that the committee is not relenting in its effort to ensure team Nigeria performs well come August in Paris.
According to him, we intend to go to Paris and break the jinx of 1996 with the support of everyone.
However, he identified a lack of funds as a major setback why some of the athletes struggle to compete with others in the international championship.
When the House committee asked the NOC if they have received any funds from the ministry regards Preparation for the Paris 2024 Engr. Gumel replied: “we are yet to receive a dime from the sports ministry”
Sports
Customs Names First Lady Remi Tinubu As ‘Grand Patron’ For 2025 African Volleyball Championship

…As CGC Adeniyi champions gender inclusion in Nigeria Customs Service
Joel Ajayi
Following the preparation to commence the long-awaited African Volleyball Tournament in April 2025, the Nigeria Customs Service has named the First Lady and wife of the President of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, as the Grand Patron of the upcoming female volleyball tournament.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, made this announcement on Friday, when he officially visited the First Lady at her office in Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja.During the engagement, CGC Adeniyi lauded the First Lady’s unwavering commitment to women’s empowerment, citing her Renewed Hope Initiative, which has positively impacted education, healthcare, and economic empowerment for women, youth, and vulnerable groups. He noted that her leadership has inspired institutional reforms across various sectors, including the Nigeria Customs Service.
The CGC highlighted the Service’s investment in women’s sports, noting that its volleyball team has won the Volleyball Premier League in 2018, 2022, and 2024, as well as the Confederation of Africa Zone 3 Volleyball Championship in 2018 and 2019. He expressed confidence that the First Lady’s presence at the championship would boost athletes’ morale.
“Your Excellency, in recognition of your exemplary leadership and advocacy for women’s advancement, we humbly request that you honour us by serving as the Grand Patron of this momentous event.
Your presence at the official opening ceremony would immeasurably elevate the significance of this championship and inspire our athletes to even greater heights”, CGC Adeniyi said.
Beyond sports, the CGC emphasised the Service’s commitment to gender balance, highlighting the appointment of women to strategic leadership positions, including Excise and Free Trade Zones, Tariff and Trade, and ICT/Modernization Departments.
He further acknowledged the contributions of female officers leading critical initiatives such as the Corporate Social Responsibility ,CSR, Programme, Single Window project, and Authorised Economic Operator Programme, which have significantly modernised Customs operations.
“Following Your Excellency’s inspiring example, we are actively implementing policies that provide equal opportunities for women to express themselves and excel in our Service. Today, women hold critical leadership positions and drive key modernisation efforts”, CGC Adeniyi added.
However, he reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to promoting women’s participation in leadership and sports, pledging continued support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the First Lady’s vision for gender inclusion in national development.
Responding, First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu accepted the offer, emphasising that women must continue to take up spaces in all spheres of life.
“I accepted this offer and I keep telling women, there’s always a space for you. There’s a space for you. Nobody’s asking you not to amount to anything. You just have to work more”, the First Lady said.
She further called on Nigerian female star athletes who have made names abroad to return home and inspire the next generation, urging figures like Tobi Amusan and others to actively mentor young girls in sports.
“These are role models for our girls, but don’t go out and just be popular there. They should come and encourage other girls. I want them to do that because it matters a lot. When God gives you a platform, you are not just standing for yourself, you are standing for millions of other women”, Senator Oluremi added.
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