Sports

Sports Minister Senator Enoh Woos Tony Elumelu, Abdul Samad Rabiu, Others on Need to Invest in Local Clubs

Published

1 year ago

April 22, 2024

Joel Ajayi

Reaffirms Government’s commitment to revitalizing local league under Renewed Hope Mandate

The conversation to bolster football in Nigeria has gained significant momentum, with the Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh spearheading efforts to revolutionize the country’s football landscape.

Senator Enoh met with prominent business leader and Chairman of Heirs Holdings, Tony Elumelu, with founder and chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu also joining virtually.

Senator Enoh reiterated the importance of instilling confidence in Nigeria’s prime sport, football, through strategic investments in the local league. “We must put a home-based structure in place that reflects the charismatic, energetic, and die-hard Nigerian spirit,” he emphasized. He called upon the private sector to seize the vast opportunities in sports development, emphasizing its potential to drive economic growth, revenue generation, job creation, and national unity.

Reflecting on his vision for sports development in Nigeria, Senator Enoh emphasized the need for a systemic structure that addresses the underlying challenges within the football ecosystem. “As a sports ministry, we do not aim for superficial solutions. Our vision is to build a robust framework that tackles issues from the grassroots level up,” he asserted.

Senator Enoh stated, “Let me express my gratitude to my brother and friend Tony Elumelu, who has shown great passion and commitment in this direction.” He further elaborated on the positive outcomes of their recent meeting, where discussions centered on the acquisition of local league clubs. Senator Enoh commended Mr. Elumelu for his proactive approach, highlighting his efforts in reaching out to potential buyers and extending conversations to further the cause of Nigerian football.

Under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu and the Renewed Hope Agenda, Senator Enoh reaffirmed the government’s commitment to revitalizing Nigeria’s local league and restoring its former glory. “Let us rise to the occasion and bring back glory to our nation’s local league,” he urged.

The collaborative efforts of government and the private sector signals a renewed commitment to transforming Nigerian football and unlocking its full potential on the global stage.

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Sports

Onikeku Re-elected to Represent Military and Paramilitary on AFN Board

Published

1 hour ago

June 6, 2025

The Gleamer

By Joel Ajayi

Renowned athletics administrator and Sports Secretary of the Nigeria Customs Service, Samuel Onikeku, has been re-elected as the Military and Paramilitary Representative on the board of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN).

The election, held at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, brought together key stakeholders from Nigeria’s military and paramilitary sporting units.

Onikeku, who served as Technical Director on the outgoing AFN board and previously held the same representative position, was returned unopposed — a clear endorsement of his leadership and unwavering commitment to the development of athletics within the armed services and beyond..

Speaking shortly after his re-election on Thursday, Onikeku expressed gratitude to his colleagues for the renewed mandate, promising to continue championing the interests of military and paramilitary athletes within the AFN framework.“I am honored by this re-election and deeply appreciate the confidence reposed in me. My focus will remain on fostering discipline, excellence, and opportunity for athletes across all services, while strengthening synergy with the civilian athletics community,” he stated.

Onikeku, who also serves as the Sports Secretary of the Nigeria Customs Service, has been instrumental in discovering and nurturing top talent from military and paramilitary institutions to represent Nigeria at national and international competitions.

His leadership is credited with improving coordination between the Nigeria Customs Service, other sports units, and the AFN, while also driving initiatives aimed at identifying and grooming young athletes from security formations.

The AFN board, which includes representatives from various zones, stakeholders, and institutional blocs, plays a key role in shaping the strategic direction of track and field sports in Nigeria. With his re-election, Onikeku is expected to continue leveraging his experience, discipline, and structured leadership to further reposition athletics as a vital pillar of Nigeria’s sporting success.

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