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Two Athletes from Anambra Bags Sports Minstry’s Scholarship Award

Published

5 years ago

January 9, 2020

Joel Ajayi

As part of the fulfilment of promised made to unearth hidden talents across the country when Mr. Sunday Dare the Minister of Youth and Sports Development assumed office two Athletes from Anambra state have been given Sports Scholarship award courtesy of the Ministry.

The desire of ministry of Sports is to grow and nurture athletes that will to take over from the older ones at the right time and as a fallout of last year’s National Youth Games held in Ilorin, Kwara State, where some talented athletes were spotted for possible national assignment.

The scholarship which was birthed as a result of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by the Ministry under the leadership of the Minister, Mr. Sunday Dare with Nigerian Tulip International Colleges (NTIC) in October of 2019, worth N2.6 Million naira, is to see some of the athletes further their education while still engaging in sports.

Anambra State at the competition last year, had a large contingent and some of its athletes were selected. Four out of the twenty athletes nominated for the scholarship programme from Anambra in company of their Coach, Mr. Akachukwu Igwebuike, a two-time Gold Medalist in Javelin at International level, where put through physical and practical trials as well as oral screening after which two of the athletes out of the four nominated, made the final cut for the scholarship award.

The two athletes are Dike Innocent Mmaduabuchi (Long Jump and High Jump) and

Shehu Gabriel Chidera (Shotput and Discus).

However, it is worthy of note that during the course of the screening programme, over 240 footballers were nominated for the scholarship programme and three footballers of Anambra descent made the final list of which the captain of Team Anambra at the 5th National Youth Games, Master Okafor Chinaza Anthony was amongst the lucky recipients.

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NSF: Oparaoji, Ekpeyong, Quadri Gear Up for Tough Quarterfinal Clashes in Abeokuta

Published

1 week ago

May 23, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The tennis courts at the ongoing National Sports Festival in Abeokuta are buzzing with intensity as the competition hits the quarterfinal stage in both the men’s and women’s singles events, following a gripping round of 16.

Men’s Singles Quarterfinals:

Abubakar Yusuf of FCT will square off against Rivers State’s Abua Canice. Yusuf booked his spot with a 4-0, 4-2 win over Ehigiamusoe Endurance of Edo, while Canice cruised past Azi David 4-1, 4-0.

Bayelsa’s Uche Oparaoji faces Adeleye Daniel of Ekiti in a clash of skill and strategy. Oparaoji outclassed Urenyang Nuhu of Taraba 4-1, 4-2, just as Adeleye powered past Kaduna’s Ibrahim Sulaiman with the same scoreline.

In one of the most anticipated ties, Danjuma Lucky (FCT) will lock horns with Bayelsa’s top seed David Ekpeyong. Danjuma came through a thrilling contest against Ekiti’s Abamu Matthew, rallying to win 1-4, 4-2, 10-5, while Ekpeyong dominated Taraba’s Rubi Toba 4-0, 4-2.

Home favourite Christopher Bulus of Ogun will battle Edo’s Michael Chima for a semifinal ticket. Bulus swept past Rivers’ Timibra Godsgift 4-1, 4-0, while Chima triumphed over Delta’s Iloputa Ikechukwu in a straight-set win.

Women’s Singles Quarterfinals:

Delta’s Barakat Quadri, fresh off a 4-1, 4-0 win over Rebecca Ekpeyong of Bayelsa, will face rising star Emmanuel Bright of the IJA (Invited Junior Athletes), who overcame Rivers’ Maxwell Timipre 4-2, 5-3.

Edo’s Omotayo Blessing will battle Akwa Ibom’s Udoffa Mary in what promises to be a fiery encounter. Omotayo brushed aside Ekiti’s Adeusi Jesutoyosi 4-0, 4-1, while Udoffa outplayed Moses Favour of Kaduna 5-3, 4-0.

Elsewhere, Ogunjobi Success of Ekiti will test her mettle against Aina Goodnews of IJA, and Akwa Ibom’s Etoro Bassey faces Ogun’s Yakubu Ohunene in a South-South vs South-West showdown.

With the quarterfinals locked in, tennis fans are in for a thrilling ride as the battle for medals intensifies under the Abeokuta sun.

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