Sports

Sports Minister Canvasses Improved Bilateral Ties With Turkey For Development

Published

3 years ago

January 25, 2024

Joel Ajayi

The Honorable Minister of Sports Development Senator John Owan Enoh on Thursday canvased for improved areas of cooperation and collaboration between Nigeria and Turkey in the areas of sports promotion and development for the mutual benefit of both countries.

In a statement issued by the S.A. Media Honorable to the Minister of Sports Development, Diana-Mary Tiku Nsan on Thursday in Abuja.

Receiving Hidayet Bayraktar, the Turkish ambassador to Nigeria and Imdat Karakoc the Deputy Head of Mission in audience during a courtesy visit to his office in Abuja, the minister observed that Nigeria and Turkey have enjoyed cordial bilateral relations spanning several years.

He stressed that both countries share a lot of things in common especially in the area of football and looked forward to greater collaborations between both countries in this regard.

Senator John Enoh stated that both countries should explore and expand more frontiers in order to create opportunities for the teaming youth for self development.

Earlier in his remarks,the Turkish ambassador who lauded the new energy injected into the Nigerian sports ecosystem by Senator John Owan Enoh formally invited the minister to attend the 6th Ethno Sports Forum slated to take place in Turkey next month.

Hidayet BayRaktar stated that Nigeria and Turkey have a shared interest in ethno sports especially in archery and other ethno sports adding that there are several sports that both countries can collaborate in for mutual benefits.

The ambassador noted that Nigerian internationals Emmanuel Emenike, Joseph Yobo and Austin J.J.Okocha made their marks in Turkey. He expressed the hope that the sports ministry under the leadership of Senator Owan Enoh will usher in a new era of unprecedented cooperation between both countries.

The Honorable Minister of Sports referenced the notable presence of Nigerian athletes at the Winter Youth Olympic Games in Gangwon South Korea , where Nigeria emerged as the only African Nation to qualify and participate , which is an indication of Nigerian athletes breaking new grounds in sports and a show of other great possibilities in the fut

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Sports

VIP Spikers unveil Veronica Gyamfi following successful surgery after career-threatening injury

Published

4 hours ago

October 25, 2026

The Gleamer

VIP Spikers have unveiled Veronica Gyamfi as their player, pledging to support her welfare and recovery after an injury sustained during last season’s CGC Volleyball Premier League.

The unveiling took place on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, with Samuel Onikeku, Head of Sports, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), performing the ceremony.

Gyamfi sustained the injury while representing Wikki during last season’s CGC Volleyball Premier League.

In a swift response, the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Dr Bashir Adewale Adeniyi (MFR), and the President of Vipers sponsored her surgery at Dala Orthopedic Hospital in Kano, where she spent two weeks receiving medical attention.

Her signing by Vipers and Partners VC, popularly known as VIP Spikers, is expected to provide her with continued care and support as she progresses through recovery and works towards returning to competitive volleyball.

Meanwhile, Gyamfi was presented a brand new ASICS canvas and a branded jersey of VIP Spikers as it is believed she would return to play after completing her rehabilitation.

The intervention reflects the importance of athlete welfare in Nigerian sports, particularly the need to ensure that players who sustain injuries while representing their teams receive appropriate medical attention and rehabilitation support.

The sponsorship of Gyamfi’s surgery by the Comptroller-General, followed by her signing by VIP Spikers, highlights the potential impact of collaboration between sports authorities, competition sponsors and clubs in safeguarding athletes’ careers.

After the surgery Gyamfi has been undergoing physiotherapy sessions at the 44 Military Reference hospital in Kaduna as the Sporting Club is supporting her education at Kaduna State Polytechnic.

Gyamfi’s story offers an encouraging example of support for an athlete facing a difficult period in her career.

Her unveiling reinforces the message that volleyball development goes beyond competitions and trophies to include protecting players’ welfare and helping them return to the sport they love.

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