Maiden NSSF Secondary Schools football competition begins Wednesday

 

The finals of the maiden edition of the Kwara State chapter of the Nigeria School Sports Federation (NSSF) organized Secondary Schools Football Championship has been scheduled to hold in Ilorin between Wednesday January 19 to Friday January 21, 2022.

The championship, being organized under the auspices of the Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development will be played at the Kwara Football Academy, and the final at the Main-Bowl of the Kwara State Stadium Complex.

Eight schools, who emerged champions from their zones will fight for honours in the competition aimed at reviving sports development culture in schools in the state.

The schools are  Sheikh Abdulkadri College (Ilorin West zone), C&S College (Ilorin East zone), Al-Lateef Model College (Ilorin South zone), Oke-Opin Anglican College (Omu-Aran zone), Lafiagi Secondary School (Edu zone), Government Secondary School Alawon-Oja (Asa zone), ECWA Secondary School of Igbaja and Offa Grammar School (Offa zone).

Both private and public schools participated in the competition from the preliminaries, which began last term.

The competition, according to Mr A.S. Bakare of the Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, will be played on knock-out basis.

Mr Bakare said that the competition was monitored and supervised by the NSSF from the preliminaries, to avoid the use of mercenaries, and as well, ensure that all measures put in place to ensure hitch-free competition are adhered to strictly.

He commended the state Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for approving the staging of the competition, adding that it will help in re-awakening sports in schools.

Mr Bakare, a Board member of the Kwara State Sports Commission also commended the Executive Chairman of the Commission and the Administrator of KFA for their support.

Sports Minister inaugurates federation presidents, boards

... Business and Technical Workshop Session Underway

Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare Friday inaugurated the Presidents and boards of Sports Federations charging them to roll up their sleeves for the task of deepening development of Sports in Nigeria. 

The Minister while congratulating the new board executives emphasized the need for them to work as a team while restating the need to be guided by established processes, procedures and Code of Governance of National Sports Federations in the discharge of their responsibilities. “As you are aware, the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development’s core responsibilities are focused at facilitating youth and sport development through the establishment of a conducive policy environment that provides strategic support systems and sport policy implementation, amongst other functions. The Ministry coordinates the formulation and review of policies and legislation in order to provide a framework for effective implementation of youth and sports programs”, Dare reaffirmed. 

“Let me also stress that the future of the various sports is now in your hands, the career of our young athletes under your Federations is now in your hands and history will judge you how you have positively or otherwise impacted Sports in your respective governing bodies”, the Minister added. 

In line with the reclassification of sports from recreation to business as approved by President Muhammadu Buhari, the Minister revealed that a new business orientation will be pursued, tasking the board of each Federation to adopt and bring about a business approach to its operations. Dare further gave a marching order to the newly inaugurated 28 Sports Federations to within six months begin the process of formulating the Federations’ constitution in line with the dictates of various international Federations with the inputs and guidance of the Ministry to ensure domestication and operation in tandem with Nigerian laws and Sports Industry policy.

The Minister charged the board of Federations to settle down to business and avoid the acrimonious relationships that beset some associations in the past. He intimated the new Executives that a 2-day technical and business workshop for capacity building will be organized in collaboration with the Edo State Government, and held in Edo State in the coming weeks.

Otunba Runsewe promises to grow Golf from Grassroot

The Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe emerged as the new President of Nigeria Golf Federation, has promised to promote the sport’s grassroots development.

Air Cmdr Davis Solomon with 10 votes defeated Suleiman Bello from North-East zone who garnered only one vote to emerge as Vice-President.

Otunba Runsewe said he would concentrate on grassroots development of golf in the country, as well as introduce some new innovations into the game.

“We are going to develop a youth programme that will capture the Nigerian golfer from the grassroots because golf is about the only game in which if you don’t start early you can never connect well.

“I am also going to continue from where my predecessor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, stopped. I intend to introduce some new innovations into the golfing arena.

“Today, golf has gone beyond just playing it manually. It is now IT-based. So, I will be bringing a lot of experts from the PGA to come and open more doors for us.

“I can also tell you that there is over six billion dollars in the offing for golfers in the world which the country has not been able to take advantage of.

“So, my plan is to set up a platform where Nigeria can access a major chunk,” he said.

Runsewe also thanked the media for its support for the development of golf, adding that he had also done a lot to promote the game in the country.

Lawrence Iquaibom ready to team up with Dr. Abdul to grow Weightlifting

The South South Representative on the board of Nigeria Weightlifting Federation, Lawrence Iquaibom has declared his readiness to work with President-elect NWF, Dr Ibrahim Abdul for the overall progress of weightlifting.

Iquaibom stated this after the successful election of the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation held at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Package B in Abuja.

The ex-Commonwealth Games Champion said he and the President share the same ideology for the growth of weightlifting in Nigeria.

He said, “I accept the result of the election and very heartily congratulate my brother and friend, Dr. Ibrahim Abdul, on his emergence as the President of NWF while also declaring my intent to work with him for the overall progress and development of the sport which has made me who I am today.

“Having worked at close quarters with Dr. Ibrahim Abdul who is the Chairman of the FCT Weightlifting Association and the immediate past Chairman of the NWF caretaker committee with me as member, I can attest to the fact that we share the same ideologies for the growth of the sport in the country. I had no difficulty stepping down and queuing behind him.”

The category one International weightlifting referee expressed profound to Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel; former President of Nigeria Judo Federation, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu; the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Chief Sunday Dare; Senior Special Assistant on sports to Akwa Ibom state Governor; Elder Paul Bassey amongst others.

He said, “I am grateful to His Excellency, the Governor of Akwa Ibom state, Mr. Udom Emmanuel for his support before, during and after the elections. I am deeply grateful to His Excellency Senator Orji Uzor Kalu. I am honoured that the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Sunday Dare found me worthy to be appointed into the NWF caretaker committee.

“I am delighted that the Deputy Chief Whip of Akwa Ibom state House of Assembly and Chairman House Committee on Youth, Sports and Security, Otuekong Nse Essien threw his weight behind my aspiration and has always presented his shoulders for me to lean on all these years. Also at the receiving end of my in-depth appreciation is the Akwa Ibom state Honourable Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Sir Monday Uko, whose support for me during the electioneering and over the years has been immeasurable.

“I am profoundly thankful to Elder Paul Bassey, my elder brother and Senior Special Assistant on sports to Akwa Ibom state Governor under whose guidance I have continued to grow. I am deeply appreciative of the support I enjoyed from my loving family, my colleagues at NWF, my dear lifters, coaches, referees and stakeholders all over the country including the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) across the 36 states of the Federation including FCT."