Sports
President Tinubu Reaffirms Strong Support for Team Nigeria at 2025 Invictus Games in Vancouver
Joel Ajayi
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has pledged comprehensive support for Nigeria’s team as they prepare to compete in the Invictus Games, set to take place in Vancouver, Canada, in 2025. Representing the President, Hon. Mohammed Abba Isa, Senior Special Assistant on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, delivered this message of assurance during a sports training week organized by the Africa Unconquered Foundation. Hon. Isa emphasized that President Tinubu’s administration remains deeply committed to inclusivity and to supporting servicemen and women who inspire the nation with their bravery and resilience.
Hon. Isa highlighted a recent moment of significance when Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, visited Nigeria, underscoring the country’s support for the Invictus Games. Prince Harry’s initiative to establish the Invictus Games offers a space where wounded and injured military personnel can experience healing and achievement through sports. “Their visit shone a light on Nigeria’s dedication to the Invictus Games, reflecting the spirit of our servicemen and women,” he remarked. “President Tinubu’s administration is firmly committed to supporting our athletes, ensuring they receive the resources they need, and celebrating their journey to success.”
Derrick Cobbinah, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of the Africa Unconquered Foundation, explained the importance of the Invictus Games training week. The Foundation’s mission is to support the sports recovery journey of wounded, injured, and serving military personnel across Africa, including Nigeria. “This week, we are training 22 injured soldiers, preparing them for the Invictus Games next year in Vancouver, Canada. It’s an opportunity for Nigeria to showcase its strength on the world stage, competing alongside other nations.”
Cobbinah emphasized that the Invictus Games concept has a profound impact on participants, especially those who have fought in challenging conditions, such as combating Boko Haram. For many soldiers who have faced trauma and physical injuries, the Games offer renewed hope and empowerment.
“For some, these events have restored a sense of purpose, camaraderie, and unity—something invaluable as they rebuild from their injuries,” he shared.
Alvin Atsegwasi CFO and Co – Founder
“This experience reinforces healing, unity, and a strong belief in the support systems around them.”
Looking ahead, Atsegwasi expressed excitement for the future, stating, “Our mission goes beyond the Games; we’re here for continuous development, healing, and growth. Together, we heal, and together, we rise.”
Team Nigeria will compete in five sports at the 2025 Invictus Games in Vancouver: archery, wheelchair basketball, swimming, wheelchair rugby, and para volleyball. As they prepare to represent the nation on an international stage, Nigeria is ready to rally behind them, honoring their resilience and the spirit of triumph that defines them.
Sports
Fresh Air, As Dikko Resumes As NSC Chairman, Unveils 3-Pillar For Sports Growth
Joel Ajayi
The newly appointed Chairman of National Sports Commision Malam Shehu Dikko on Wednesday officially assumed office unveiled 3 Pillars to growth sport sector.
Just last week President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed Shehu Dikko as Chairman of the National Sports Commission.
Speaking shortly in Abuja after outgoing Minister of Sports Senator John Enoh officially handed over the affairs of the Country’s Sports to him in a brief ceremony in Abuja.
He expressed that the Country’s journey towards a sustainable Sports Economy has begun.
According to him, history has a way of coming full circle because in 2008 I was a consultant to the House of Representatives and was responsible for the drafting of the National Sports Commission Bill and about 16 years down the line i have here with the assignment to implement the work I assisted to put together”.
“The objective of Mr President is to harness the full potentials of the Sports Economy in Nigeria”.
“And we have to first change our mindset from the fixation of just competitions and winning medals and come back and fix our Domestic Sports Development”.
“When we set the foundation right the results and the winning of medals will naturally come in a sustainable manner and that should be the new mindset”.
“We cannot continue to run in cycles so we need to have a different approach from day one because in my view and indeed the view of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, competitions is what we call “Consumption” because we just take scarce resources and burn out abroad without any impact on the domestic sports development and the Nigerian Economy.
“But we have to go back to “Production” which is deliberate Sports Development, where we set the structure right, set the framework and put together good parameters to have a sustainable Sports Development which will naturally give us a solid Sports Economy and indeed guaranteed competitive participation at all competitions and medals.
“This is the reason why our administration will be focus on three Pillars including running Sports as a National Asset, that is entitled to special privileges, regulations and concessions to drive growth and development to open its potentials to be a key driver of the economy across all sectors, a vehicle for achieving national cohesion and projection of the positive and unique attributes of our culture and national identity “.
” We have to also work on Legislations and Regulations so as to set the framework to enable the Industry to grow effectively like what happened in the communications industry some years back”.
” The other Pillar is investing in purposeful world class infrastructures that will provide an enabling environment for Growth. These infrastructures must be deliberate with maintenance culture and span from world class infrastructure for professional sports to community infrastructure to drive grassroots sports and mass participation across the country.
” The thinking of Mr President is that , after having some of all these in place we should be able to measure the Country’s Sports by its contribution to the nation’s GDP by at least three percent and the number of jobs sports and its value chain are providing in country in the next four to five years and indeed our competitiveness across all competitions and tournaments.
Thus it’s a fantastic decision for Mr. President to approve the return of the National Sports Comission to drive the process and objectives in line to the best international practices and standards devoid of any beureucratic bottlenecks but absolute professionalism.”
In his remark, the outgoing Sportst Minister Senator John Enoh expressed: “For me it’s farewell, it’s bye bye and for mallam shehu Dikko it’s welcome that is what life is all about, there is time for everything.
He however thumbed president Tinubu for scrapping Sports Ministry and bring back the NSC to enable sports to grow in the country, saying that the decision remain a great positive that will grow Sports.
On his remark, the most senior staff of the ministry, Director of Medicine Paul Onyedo pledged staff support to work with incoming Chairman to the best of their ability. “We are ready to give our best.”
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