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Team FCT Arrives Ilorin For 2020 NSF North Central Zonal Eliminiation Battle

Published

6 years ago

January 21, 2020

Joel Ajayi

The contingent from the Federal Capital Territory Abuja made up of five teams that departed Abuja on Monday have arrived Ilorin the Kwara State capital for the north central zonal qualifiers ahead of the 2020 National Sports Festival in EDO State later in the year.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Head of Media FCT Sport Abuja Mr Agbor Clinton in Ilorin on Tuesday Morning.

Bidding the contingent farewell in Abuja before departing at the FCT Sports Complex Abuja the Director of Sports FCT Mrs Dilichukwu Onyindima , accompanied by Some Chairmen of FCT Sports Associations charged the contingent to be role models and make the FCT proud by qualifying for the events in Benin City.

“The Minister of FCT Muhammad Bello and the Minister of state Ramatu Tijani Aliyu wants you to be good ambassadors of FCT, in terms of your conduct, on and off the field.

“I want to assure you that this period will be different from any other time in the past.

“We want all our team sports to feature in the main Games in Benin City and that is the reason why we are all here today.

The FCT Director of Sports tasked team FCT to go all out as defending champions and maintaining a hundred percent record not only by qualifying but by winning gold back to back in the National.Sports Festival.

Mrs Dilichukwu added that modalities have been put in place for the contingent to succeed at both the Zonal Elimination and main events coming later in EDO State.

Responding on behalf of the teams the Secretary General of the FCT Football team Haruna Ilerika promised that they would do their best to give FCT all the tickets at the Zonal Elimination.

FCT top the nineteen northern states and finished overall 7th in the last National Sports Festiva.

The North-Central Zonal Elimination competition which would determine the States that will represent the Zone in Team Sports Events at the 2020 NSF in Edo State, will kick-off on Tuesday with the draws followed by the action in the field and would come to an end on Thursday, 23rd January,

Team FCT will feature in Football Male .Handball Male.Beach Volley ball both Male and female and cricket in female event respectivly

The 2020 National Sports Festival, NSF, is scheduled to hold between March 22 to April 1st 2020, in Benin City, Edo State, with over 8,500 athletes expected to compete for 3,000 medals from 33 sports events.

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Nigeria’s Historic Bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games: A Call for National and Global Support

Published

1 week ago

September 30, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

Nigeria is poised to make history as it seeks to host the Centenary Commonwealth Games in 2030, a monumental opportunity that promises to transform the nation’s economy, infrastructure, and global standing.

More than a sporting spectacle, the Games would serve as a catalyst for development across multiple sectors, leaving behind a legacy of national pride and sustainable growth.

The benefits of hosting the Games extend far beyond the sports arena. Nigeria stands to gain both empirical and non-empirical advantages, with direct, indirect, and induced impacts that will touch every corner of society. Infrastructural development will take center stage, with new facilities such as indoor sports halls, conference centers, and improved road networks reshaping urban landscapes while strengthening the nation’s capacity to host future international events.

Economic growth is another significant dividend. Over 10,000 jobs are expected to be created, spanning construction, facility management, event planning, and tourism services.

The hospitality industry will undergo major improvements as hotels and resorts are upgraded to meet international standards, while local restaurants, lounges, and tourist attractions will see a surge in patronage from international visitors. Small and medium enterprises, particularly in the transport, finance, and food service sectors, will become some of the greatest beneficiaries, as the Games generate new demand and expand opportunities for local businesses.
The Commonwealth Games will also accelerate the growth of Nigeria’s sports industry.

Investments in training facilities, coaching, and talent development will inspire a new generation of athletes, ensuring long-term benefits that extend beyond 2030, a major focus of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
At the same time, the process of preparing for the Games will create opportunities for Nigerians to learn new crafts, acquire technical skills, and engage in global-standard event management, thereby strengthening human capacity and innovation across industries.

Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the Nigeria Sports Commission, and Hon. Bukola Olopade, the Director General, have been widely recognized for their tireless and visionary leadership in repositioning Nigeria’s sporting sector.

Their commitment to facilitating infrastructural development and strengthening grassroots sports development has laid the foundation for Nigeria’s bold bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Under their leadership, the NSC is fostering strategic partnerships and driving innovation in sports administration, they have demonstrated the nation’s readiness to stage an event of such global magnitude.

Beyond the tangible gains, the hosting of the 2030 Commonwealth Games carries profound symbolic value. It would be a moment of unity and pride, a chance for Nigeria to showcase its cultural richness, resilience, and excellence to the world.
As a centenary edition, the Games would stand as a historic milestone not just for the Commonwealth but for Nigeria itself, cementing its place on the global stage as a capable, ambitious, and forward-looking nation.

The gains from hosting the Commonwealth Games can never be undermined or overemphasized. This is Nigeria’s time to step forward and show the world our resilience, and excellence. We call on every Nigerian, across sectors and communities, to support this noble aspiration.

Nigeria’s pursuit of the 2030 Commonwealth Games is a vision for transformation, a blueprint for national development, and a legacy project that will inspire generations to come.

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