Sports

We will continue to organise more grassroots Athletics competitions-Ameh

Published

4 years ago

October 23, 2022

The organiser of the maiden edition of athletics competition , Christopher Ameh said they will continue to organise more athletics competitions to discover raw talent that will represent the country in major International competitions.

Ameh disclosed this on Saturday to newsmen at the closing ceremony of the two days athletics competitions at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja.

The event is organised by OSI Sports Foundation in collaboration with the Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN)
Ameh who is also the founder of ‘OSI Sports Foundation’ which is a non profitable organisation said the mission and vision of the foundation is to give nigerian youth a better life in the future.

According to him, the essence of the competition is to take kids away from the street so as to reduce the rate of crime and atrocity in the country.

“I’m a coach a train kids in Abuja, Kaduna and Katsina, this is all about grassroots competition to discover and to prepare young athletes for future engagement.

“We were able discover some talents that we will continue to work on them , to give them an opportunity to have a better education.

“The government can not do it alone this is our way of contributing to the society,” he said.

The organiser said it is necessary to invest in athletes so that they will give back to the nation a fruitful results in the future.

“Athletes like Tomi Amusa, Ese Brume started like this, they were discover in a grassroots event land today they are making the country proud.

“This is because some people invested in them and today everybody is proud of them.

“We need the support of rich nigerian, phylantropists and private organisations to invest in athletics ,”he said
Speaking after the competition, the winner of the women category 800m Helen Mamman said she is happy that she won the run.

“This is my first time of running 800m in four years now. I did not believe I could win the race.

“Now I run 5,000 to 10,000km, I need to work more on my run so that I will be able to run faster than this.

“This is one of event that athletes need to be doing time to time, we lack constant competitions that will make us better and prepare us for International events.
“If we can get more sponsors to organise constant events for us, we the athletes will be grateful,”she said

Ibrahim Sani, the winner of 800m in the men category said he decided to participate in the competition to measure his ability.
“Regular event will make us to be focus and serious in any competition, we don’t want once in a year competition.

“If we can have a competition like this five time in a year it will improve our performance,” he said.

The events are 100m 400 and 800m , long jump ,short jump, discus throw, shot put discus, javelin among others.

The two days event which started on Friday ended on Saturday at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium
NAN.

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Sports

NSC DG, Olopade Celebrates Nigeria at 66, Assures of More Progressive Sports Development Under President Tinubu

Published

13 hours ago

October 1, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, has congratulated Nigerians as the nation celebrates its 66th Independence Anniversary, describing the milestone as a reflection of Nigeria’s resilience, unity and remarkable capacity to excel on the global stage, particularly through sports.

Hon. Olopade said Nigeria at 66 is an occasion every Nigerian should be proud of, noting that despite the challenges encountered over the years, the country has continued to make significant progress and produce achievements capable of inspiring generations.

The DG said the sports sector has particular reasons to celebrate, pointing to a series of performances and milestones by Nigerian athletes and teams across the global sporting landscape.

“Today, we celebrate the resilience of our people, the strength of our unity and our belief in the promise of our great country, especially through sports.

“As we raise our flag with pride, may we remain committed to building a nation where every Nigerian has the opportunity to dream, thrive and succeed.”

Hon. Olopade said the progress being witnessed in Nigerian sports aligns with the vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and the Renewed Hope Initiative for Nigeria Sports Development (RHINSE), which he said is focused on creating a stronger and more sustainable pathway for athletes, while positioning sports as a tool for national development, youth empowerment and global recognition.

He pointed to Nigeria’s outstanding performance at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games as one of the latest examples of the country’s sporting potential. Team Nigeria returned from Glasgow with 24 medals, comprising 10 gold, seven silver and seven bronze, finishing seventh overall and as the highest-ranked African nation at the Games. The campaign also produced three world records and a number of historic milestones across para powerlifting, athletics, weightlifting, para athletics and judo.

Among the standout performances was that of Team Nigeria captain Folashade Oluwafemiayo, who won gold in para powerlifting and twice broke the world record during the competition, ultimately lifting 175kg. Goodness Nwachukwu also successfully defended her Commonwealth title in the women’s para discus and set a new world record, while Nigeria recorded historic Commonwealth gold medals through Samuel Ogazi in the men’s 400m, Ezekiel Nathaniel in the men’s 400m hurdles and Chukwuebuka Enekwechi in the men’s shot put.

“Today, Nigeria is a global force in para-sports, and athletes such as Folashade Oluwafemiayo and Goodness Nwachukwu continue to demonstrate the extraordinary talent and determination that exist within our country,” Hon. Olopade said.

He also celebrated the continued dominance of D’Tigress, Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, which in 2025 became the first nation to win five consecutive FIBA Women’s AfroBasket titles after defeating Mali 78-64 in the final in Abidjan in the last edition. The achievement extended Nigeria’s unbeaten run in the competition to 29 games and secured qualification for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup pathway.

On the global athletics scene, Hon. Olopade highlighted the continued excellence of Tobi Amusan and the emergence of a new generation of Nigerian sprinters. Amusan won silver in the women’s 100m hurdles at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest in September 2026, clocking 12.34 seconds in the final, while Kayinsola Ajayi added another significant milestone by winning Commonwealth bronze in the men’s 100m and helping Nigeria to bronze in the men’s 4x100m relay in Glasgow.

Nigeria’s football heritage, Hon. Olopade noted, remains another major source of national pride. The country holds the record for the most FIFA U-17 World Cup titles, with five championships won by the Golden Eaglets in 1985, 1993, 2007, 2013 and 2015.

He also pointed to the country’s growing influence in emerging sports, including flag football. Nigeria made history by winning both the men’s and women’s titles at the inaugural IFAF Africa Flag Football Championship in Cairo in 2025, earning qualification for the 2026 IFAF Flag Football World Championships ahead of the sport’s Olympic debut at Los Angeles 2028.

“These achievements across athletics, para-sports, basketball, football, weightlifting, flag football and other sports remind us that Nigeria possesses immense sporting talent,” the DG said.

“From our champions who continue to break world records to our young athletes who are announcing themselves on the international stage, the Nigerian flag continues to fly with pride around the world. This is why the development of sports must remain a national priority. Our responsibility is not only to celebrate champions after they emerge, but to build the systems, facilities, competitions and opportunities that allow more young Nigerians to become champions.”

“As we celebrate 66 years of our independence, we celebrate Nigeria’s past, but we must also look confidently toward the future. Our athletes have shown us what is possible when talent meets opportunity, preparation and support. The task before us is to ensure that more Nigerians have that opportunity,” the DG added.

“On behalf of the National Sports Commission, I wish all Nigerians a happy 66th Independence Anniversary. May our great nation continue to grow in strength, unity, prosperity and sporting excellence,” Hon. Olopade concluded.

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