Basketball

Sports Minister Commends Air Warrior Chairman On Basketball Development Initiative

Published

5 years ago

February 21, 2020

The Gleamer

… Sponsor two Players to Tokyo Olympic

…I will spend my last kobo to supports Basketball -Air Warrior Chairman

Joel Ajayi

The Minister of Youth and Sports Development Mr. Sunday Dare has applauded the Chairman Air Warrior Basketball team of Abuja a private individual not by government committing his resources for the development of the sport in the country.

The elated Minister promised that the ministry will sponsor two of the players to the 2020 Olympic Tokyo Japan to watch team Nigeria playing as well introduce them to Olympic scholarship fund that will help to support their education.

It will be recalled that 14 athletes home-based and Europe based have been adopted by private individuals and corporations.

He gave this commendation in Abuja on Friday when he received the 2019 basketball national league champion in his office.

Minister reiterated that his administration’s interest in grassroots and youth football development which he insists is the way to go in order to achieve success in football and other sports in the country.

According to him, I very excited today, I am happy to receive the two of them have made it to the national team; this team is full of hung talent.

“The story is very compelling, this is their first time they will be in National league and they came out unbeaten, no team has ever broken that record that is hugely commendable.

“And also their narrative, supported by a private individual, not the government not the sports ministry that says a lot that private sector can play a keep role developing our sports, develops talents and also nurturing the athletes.

“On this point, we are going to make sure that NBBF works closely with them, we are going to support them to remain a strong team. We intend to take two of them to the Olympic to watch team Nigeria playing.

“As for the fine from FIBA Africa fined for the inability of the team to travel for the continental event, we are working closely with NBBF, it’s already settled the matter, the fine will be paid.

“For our sports to develop in the country, we need several AbudulMajid (Air Warrior Chairman) The ministry will sponsor an exhibition match, we are going to write a team in Africa to play you in Abuja or Lagos and we put it in TV for people to celebrate you.

On his own, the chairman of the Air Warrior Basketball Team Alhaji Solademi AbudulMajid thanked Minister for the gesture saying that the gesture will go a long way to even boost player’s morale

“It’s not easy, but with determination and focus everything will be good, at a time I asked myself why am I doing this? We are Nigeria championed, we couldn’t go to continental and we also received fine but the Minister visit has changed the narrative so that even if it’s my last Kobo, I will put it on this team and supports the people on the street.”

Share on Facebook

Basketball

Senate Set to Endorse 30% Value Addition Requirement for Raw Materials

Published

2 weeks ago

May 20, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Nigerian Senate has assured Nigerians and Africans that the 30% raw materials bill would be passed this week and transmitted to the House of Representatives for concurrence.
Senate President, Sen. Godswill Akpabio gave the assurance on Tuesday at the opening ceremony of the inaugural Africa Raw Materials Summit 2025, held on Tuesday in Abuja, with the theme, “Shaping the Future of Africa’s Resource Landscape.”

Speaking through the Chairman, Senate Committee on Science and Technology, Sen. Aminu Abbas, Akpabio said, “I can assure you that the 30% value addition bill before the Senate will be passed this week and transmitted to the House Representatives for concurrence.”

Earlier in his speech, he said, “In the Nigerian Senate, we have resolved to be proactive in addressing this structural imbalance. It is in this spirit that I reaffirm our full legislative backing for the 30% Minimum Value-Addition Bill, currently under consideration. This groundbreaking bill mandates that no raw material of Nigerian origin shall be exported without undergoing a minimum of 30% local value addition—whether through processing, refining, packaging, or industrial transformation.

“This legislation is not intended to stifle trade; rather, it is designed to ignite domestic enterprise, create jobs, attract capital, and build resilient value chains that benefit our people.”

“We must reject the historic pattern in which Africa merely supplies inputs while others reap the benefits of innovation, branding, and global market control.” he added.

“It is my hope that this model will be replicated across African nations, with regional centres of excellence established to share data, technologies, and best practices in raw material development.”

He used the opportunity to call on African countries to replicate the legislation in their countries to boost their economies.

“Permit me, therefore, to echo the call for the adoption of an Abuja Declaration on Raw Materials and Industrial Transformation in Africa. Let this declaration not merely reside in summit communiqués but become a living charter—a reference for executive action, legislative alignment, and investment mobilisation.

“Let it guide our representations at the African Union, the G20, and global trade forums where Africa’s voice must no longer be that of a supplier, but that of a producer,” he said.

The Minister of Science Innovation and Technology, Chief Geoffrey Innaji, speaking through the Minister of Transport, said “We are deploying digital tools, traceability infrastructure, and research-to-industry pathways to strengthen intra-African trade under AfCFTA. This is how Africa moves from extraction to transformation—from potential to prosperity.

“Let this summit send a clear message: Africa will no longer export its future in raw form. Our minerals will power industries, our crops will feed global markets, and our youth will drive innovation,” he said.

On his part, the Minister of State for Industry, John Owen, in his speech noted that, “with African continental free trade area, I believe that a lot of opportunities are already being opened to see how we can do much more than we are currently doing, and the statistics in terms of export trade should be less in terms of exporting raw materials and more in terms of exporting finished goods.”

Commenting on the Summit, the Director General Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Mounso, in his speech said, “Today, in the heart of Africa, we gather not merely for a summit, but for a solemn declaration: Africa shall no longer be the warehouse of raw potential, but the workshop of refined prosperity.”

Share on Facebook