Sports

Sports Minister Congratulates Usman

Published

6 years ago

July 14, 2020

Encomium has continued to trail the exploits of Nigerian born pugilist Kamarudeen Usman for retaining his Ultimate fighting Championship belt against Jorge Masvidal over the weekend.

According to a statement by the Media Office of Youth and Sports Development Minister Mr. Sunday Dare, Usman’s win is not only inspiring, but a confirmation of the never say die Nigerian spirit.

“A big congratulations to Usman for making Nigeria proud by retaining his Ultimate fighting Championship title against Jorge Masvidal. His tenacity, courage and consistency are typical of the Nigerian spirit of never giving up. He is not only a worthy champion but a great Nigerian in whom we are all proud.

“Once again he has shown that he is not just a patriot, but an embodiment of a great athlete who has projected the image of our dear country before the whole world positively. You are indeed a great Ambassador of Nigeria,” the statement concluded.

Usman retained his title via unanimous decision in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. The fight was almost called off due to a disagreement overpay. Masvidal was named as a last-minute replacement to his earlier challenger Gilbert Burns who pulled out after he tested positive for Covid-19.

The feat is Usman’s 11th successful win in 3 title defense in the United Arab Emirates. Usman earned $600,000 appearance fee and $40,000 as incentives, while his challenger got $500,000.

The Nigerian Nightmare has won 16 of his last 17 fights, losing only to Jose Caseres in 2013.

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Sports

Tinubu, Fashola, Governors, UNESCO, Sports Leaders to Headline National Grassroots Sports Summit

Published

14 hours ago

October 29, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The stage is being set for a landmark gathering at the Presidential Villa as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, and leading figures from government, sports administration and international development feature in the proposed opening-day programme of the National Grassroots Sports Development Summit 2026.

In a statement signed by Thursday by the Chairperson Media Sub-com National Grassroot Sports Summit Dr. (Mrs.) Kehinde Ajayi stated that, the two-day Summit, scheduled for November 18–19, 2026, at the Banquet Hall, State House, Presidential Villa, Abuja, is being organized by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports Development, Hon. Adeyinka Anthony Adeboye.

With the theme “Creating a New Pathway for Sustainable Grassroots Sports Development,” the gathering seeks to produce practical solutions to Nigeria’s longstanding challenges in talent discovery, infrastructure, funding, coaching and athlete development.

The opening day, Wednesday, November 18, promises high-level engagement, with President Tinubu listed as Special Guest of Honour, while Fashola is scheduled to deliver a keynote address.

Also featuring in the Day One programme is Dr. Tayo Aduloju, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), whose organization has been engaged as technical partner to help translate discussions into a workable development roadmap.

Other personalities and institutions on the opening-day lineup include the Chairman and Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko and Hon. Bukola Olopade; the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum; the President of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON); and the Head of Office and UNESCO Representative to Nigeria.

Also listed are Barrister Enitan Oshodi, President of the African Table Tennis Federation; the President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee; and Dr. Musa Nakorji of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Research Department.

The involvement of these personalities reflects the Summit’s emphasis on connecting sports development with economic planning, education, grassroots governance, international cooperation and private-sector investment.

Adeboye described the gathering as an opportunity to move Nigerian sports beyond isolated achievements towards a coordinated national development system.

“The real question is not whether Nigeria has sporting talent.
We know we have talent in abundance. The question is how we build a system that discovers, nurtures and supports that talent consistently, from our communities and schools to the international stage,” he said.

He stressed that the participation of state governments, local councils, development institutions and sports administrators would be critical to producing lasting outcomes.

The Summit will continue on Thursday, November 19, with further stakeholder engagements aimed at developing actionable recommendations for sustainable grassroots sports development with preparations intensifying, organizers are confident that the gathering will provide a defining platform for strengthening the foundation of Nigerian sports and expanding opportunities for young people nationwide.

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