Sports
PCN President Sunday Odebode commends NSC for improved funding of Nigeria Para-Sports
…As Nigeria Para- contingents smash 19 medals at African Grand Prix in Tunis
Joel Ajayi
The Para-Olympics Committee of Nigeria, PCN, has ascribed the recent success of Team Nigeria at the Para Grand Prix in Tunisia to the intentional support the National Sports Commission, NSC, is giving to the country’s Para-Sports.
These were the remarks of the PCN President, Sunday Odebode, as he revelled in the performance of the country’s Para-athletes in Tunisia, where Nigeria finished second overall out of 42 countries that featured at the competition.
” The NSC under the leadership of the Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, and the Director General, Hon Bukola Olopade, has taken the support given to people living with disabilities to another level”.
” We have never had it this good in the past where the Commission is not only supporting us financially but also assisting us in every technical way to succeed both with our international competitions and domestic ones”.
” This is why to whom much is given, much is expected and the athletes did not disappoint in Tunisia and made the country proud with their performance. It will also interest us to know that because of their outing in Tunisia, Nigeria was able to secure qualification for the World Championship in India later this year and also booked various Spots to the Commonwealth Games and the Los Angeles Olympic Games”.
Odebode also salutes the Commission for the smooth funding of its program and camping which are all geared towards podium finish in both next year’s Commonwealth Games and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics games.
” The Commission has also made our various programs very easy to execute because of the attention and funding we are currently getting from them.If you observe, the Para-lifters just concluded their trials.We discovered 10 new athletes there and they will now be going to Santiago, Chile for the World tournament”.
” And the Para- athletes will open their camp this month also.We also have Wheelchair basketball also preparing for the Commonwealth Games and our Para-Swimmers are also opening camp this month. All of these wouldn’t have been possible if not for the new funding approach of the NSC”.
Team Nigeria finished the championship with an impressive medal haul of 19, out of which 10 are Gold , 6 are silver and 3 are bronze medals.
Sports
From Boardroom To Battlefield: Corporate Giants Trade Deals For Goals As Third Edition Of Corporate Stars League Kicks Off
Joel Ajayi
Ten corporate giants are preparing to swap boardroom meetings, spreadsheets and strategy decks for football boots, tactical battles and bragging rights as the Corporate Stars League returns with a promise of fierce competition, corporate networking and business deals that could extend beyond the touchline.
For five weekends, beginning Saturday, October 24, 2026, participating organisations will battle for supremacy on the pitch, where boardroom influence counts for little without teamwork, skill, determination and the ability to find the back of the net.
This year, new contenders have thrown their hats into the ring, hoping to dethrone defending champions Norrenberger and prevent them from making it back-to-back titles.
But Norrenberger are not surrendering their crown without a fight. Their representative, Victor Olamide Mattews, insists the champions are ready to defend their title, warning challengers that stopping them will be no easy task.
The company’s ambition to simplify wealth creation and champion inclusive financial solutions appears to extend beyond the financial market, with the champions eager to establish their dominance on the football pitch as well.
Telecommunications giant MTN, whose slogan is “Everywhere You Go,” will also be looking to make a stronger impression after falling short last season. Their representative, Abubakar Bako says the team is returning with renewed determination, hoping to improve its performance and ensure that this time, its presence is felt across the competition.
The Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) is also taking its reach beyond financial statements and revenue collection to test its strength on the pitch. But whether its reform-driven approach can translate into football success remains another ball game entirely.
Meanwhile, the representative of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (PI-CNG & EV), David Idakwo, says although this is the organisation’s first appearance in the competition, the team is ready to learn and challenge established conventions.
Similarly, Hassan Haruna of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) says the organisation hopes to translate its financial discipline into tactical precision, sound decision-making and a winning performance on the pitch.
Then comes Beer and Barn, ready to bring its own flavour to the contest. Beyond the football, the hospitality brand offers grilled pub meals, shawarma, live-band performances and energetic DJ nights. Its representatives will hope to make their presence felt on the pitch as much as they do in the entertainment and hospitality scene.
However, the competition is not just about goals, celebrations and corporate bragging rights. With the Nigeria Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), the Pension Commission (PenCom) and Jaiz Bank also among the participating organisations, the banter is already gathering momentum.
From playful jibes about power supply and infrastructure to pension benefits, investment decisions and corporate expansion, the pre-tournament exchanges have added another layer of excitement to a competition where professional rivalries will temporarily give way to football banter.
But when the whistle blows, the real talking will have to be done with the ball. Every misplaced pass, missed chance and defensive lapse could prove costly, while a moment of brilliance could separate champions from challengers.
Speaking after the draws and unveiling of the teams, 5Stars Operations Manager, Misal Dikko, said this year’s edition promises a higher level of competition, with more participating teams and increased expectations from corporate management.
“We are going to have an interesting competition, especially with the number of participating teams and the level of expectations from management. They have shown they are ready to put their money where their mouth is by supporting their teams with all the necessary logistics,” Dikko said.
With ten corporate teams preparing to battle over five weekends, the Corporate Stars League promises more than football. It is a meeting point for competition, camaraderie, networking and business opportunities.
For the defending champions, the mission is to protect their crown. For the challengers, it is a chance to rewrite the story. And for every team, the ultimate objective is clear: turn corporate ambition into football glory.
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