News
Sports Ministry To Produce Special Brochure for Talent Hunt Athletes
Joel Ajayi
The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare has disclosed that the Ministry will soon produce a Special Brochure for all young athletes discovered under its Talent-Hunt-Programme so as to document their feat for posterity.
The Minister made the disclosure today in his office in Abuja while receiving Miss Adeela Adedeji, Nigeria’s 8-year-old Silver Medalist at the just concluded African Gymnastics Championships in Pretoria, South Africa alongside her sibling and parents.
According to him, the brochure which will serve as a one stop shop for young Nigerian athletes discovered through this administration’s Talent-Hunt -Initiative, would also ensure that their names are written in gold as a mark of government’s recognition of their performance.
He assured that the young Gymnast who has automatically become a member of the administration’s Talent- Hunt-Programme would also enjoy the benefits given to other budding talents, like scholarships and sponsorship to competitions for enhanced development, among others.
Dare added, “you won Silver but there’s gold in you, alongside your parents and coaches, we will work assiduously to bring out that Gold”.
Dare stated further that most great nations discover talents from their younger ages and then monitor, as well as nurture them to bring greater glory to their nations.
“Suddenly, we have seen that the country has potentials, not just in football but also in other sports, with Gymnastics now taking centre stage”, the Minister said.
The Minister, while restating the present administration’s commitment to the development of grassroot sports, commended the resilience of Adeela’s parents and coaches in ensuring her development thus far in the field of Gymnastics and assured that the Ministry will henceforth follow her up in her future competitions.
Speaking on behalf of the young Kwara State born Gymnast, her father, Arc. Yomi Adedeji, thanked the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare and President Muhammadu Buhari in particular, for their commitment to the development of grassroot sports.
While pleading for Federal Government’s support towards the development of Gymnastics at the grassroot, he assured that as a parent, he will continue to invest in Adeela’s talent in order to ensure that she continues to do the nation proud.
News
Ogunlesi backs Tinubu reforms as FIRS chairman Adedeji highlights export-led economy
Joel Ajayi
After a high-level meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Abuja, Nigerian-born global investor Adebayo Ogunlesi expressed renewed confidence in the country’s economic reforms, indicating potential mega investments across energy, aviation, and port sectors.
He was joined in that optimism by Zacch Adedeji, Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), who stressed that the reforms were laying the groundwork for an export-driven economy.
Speaking to journalists after the closed-door meeting, Ogunlesi praised the sweeping policy changes under Tinubu’s administration, including the removal of subsidies, tax reforms, and the revival of a refinery already exporting aviation fuel.
“We had an excellent meeting where we discussed how to put Nigeria front and center for international investment. The President was very encouraging, and we shared useful suggestions on driving economic growth,” Ogunlesi said.
Although he declined to reveal specific details, Ogunlesi confirmed that his firm is actively investing in Nigeria and assessing new opportunities.
“Watch this space. Nigeria is not yet the most exciting investment destination, but that’s what we are working on,” he teased.
Pressed on the sectors of interest, Ogunlesi highlighted energy, gas, aviation, ports, and renewables. Drawing on his firm’s experience with LNG projects in Texas and Australia, he noted Nigeria’s massive untapped gas reserves.
On aviation, he acknowledged his reputation as “the guy who bought Gatwick Airport” and signaled interest in similar ventures locally.
He also admitted that one of his companies operates ports in Cotonou and Lomé but none in Nigeria, a point Tinubu reportedly challenged him on.
“He forgave me but said, ‘you have to bring port investment to Nigeria,’” Ogunlesi recounted with a smile.
International investor Hakeem Bello-Osagie, who was also present, underscored the importance of diaspora participation in Nigeria’s growth story.
“When Nigerians at home and abroad invest in Nigeria, it sends a strong signal to the world,” he said, lauding Tinubu’s policies for making the country “investable.”
Echoing the sentiment, FIRS chairman Adedeji described the reforms as the foundation for an export-led economy.
“We’ve done the fundamentals, and now it is time to deliver growth,” he said.
With global players signaling confidence, the momentum for Nigeria’s economic repositioning is gaining ground, setting the stage for transformative investments in key industries.
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