Commonwealth lauds Nigeria's commitment to Youth Development ahead of Africa Summit

 

Ahead of the  Commonwealth Youth and Students Summit for the African region slated to hold in Abuja from 7th to 11th May 2023, the Head of Social Policy of Commonwealth Secretariat  Mr. Layne Robinson, has commended the Nigerian Government for its continued commitment to youth development.

Mr. Robinson who made the commendation during the pre-summit meeting held at the Nigerian Embassy in the United Kingdom on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Youth Network Leaders Summit thanked Nigeria for offering to host the Commonwealth Youth Secretariat in Abuja as well as Commonwealth Youth and Students Summit for the African Region. 

The pre-summit meeting which had in attendance members of the Summit taskforce and Youth network leaders from 54 Commonwealth countries aims to bring together Youth and students to amplify their voices and contribute meaningfully to Youth Development in the areas of entrepreneurship, education, and the digital divide.

The Honourable Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Mr. Sunday Dare said, Nigeria is ready to host the young people of the Commonwealth, "Although the event is being hosted by the Nigerian Government, the ownership of the events belongs to the youth." 

He explained that  "the thematic areas chosen by the youth task force are apt for this post covid era that has cast a shadow on decent jobs and wealth creation for young people as we know it."

The Minister, who was represented by his Special Assistant on Youth and ICT, Ann Kemi Areola, reassured the youth of Nigeria's commitment to youth development in Africa and informed them that Abuja looks forward to hosting them.  

Mr. Benjamin Fraser, Chairperson of the Commonwealth Students Association said, the Summit will provide a great opportunity for the youth and students in Africa to network and partner with youth and student organizations.

"This offer by the Government of Nigeria is huge and the Commonwealth Students Association is incredibly grateful. It is important to emphasize more on implementing the outcome of this Summit because the thematic areas which are; entrepreneurship, digital education, and decolonization of education curricula are very relevant to the yearnings of the youth and students in Africa." 

Also speaking, Christabel Derby, the Deputy Chairperson on Inclusion in the Commonwealth Youth Council (CYC) said, "the CYC appreciates the support to host its secretariat by the Nigerian Government at last year's Commonwealth Youth Ministerial taskforce meeting held in Kigali, Rwanda. 

Meanwhile, the Programme Manager 

and Youth Adviser of the Commonwealth Secretariat, Sushi Ram has emphasized the need to ensure proper planning and strategy

as he reiterated the need for the youth task force to commence necessary activities within strict timelines to achieve the desired objectives from the summit in the weeks to come.

The summit which will be hosted by the Nigerian Government in collaboration with the Commonwealth Youth Council, Commonwealth Students Association, and Pan African Youth Union is expected to draw participants from the national youth and student organizations from  21 Commonwealth member countries in Africa.

President Buhari, save Ahmadu Bello Stadium from El-Rufai Now

By Gafar Yusuf

I want to believe the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari is not aware that the Ahmadu Bello Stadium (ABS) is about to be handed over to Kaduna State Government. In fact, the people of Kaduna State are of the opinion that the plans to hand over the Ahmadu Bello Stadium is an arrangement between Nigeria's Sports Minister, Sunday Dare and the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai.

The Federal Government of Nigeria will kill the only existing sports facilities (only *FUNCTIONING* STADIUM) if they hand over the Ahmadu Bello Stadium to Kaduna State Government as over 1 million youths excluding women and children will be rendered jobless and the rate of crime will increase geometric sequence. 

I am sure that President Muhammadu Buhari is unaware of the state of Muritala Muhammed Square in Kaduna. *Since it was renovated by the administration of Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai and privatised, no sporting activities have taken place there; sporting associations have been denied access to the facilities*. No sporting competition, championship or challenge have taken place at the Muritala Muhammed Square despite the huge resources spent to rehabilitate the infrastructure. In the past, the Muritala Muhammed Square was also used for recreational purposes where families engage in exercises during the weekdays as well as picnics but all are history today.

The Rancher Bees Stadium suffered the same fate in the hands of Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai, demolishing the stadium that brought us memories during the 90's and early 2000's. He practically rendered the football community homeless for years and now the only place that brings joy to the good people of Kaduna is about to be handed over to El-Rufai again. 

When the minister of sports, Sunday Dare said after the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), a novelty match between the Governor and the Minister, organised to motivate young footballers who have chosen to develop the game as a career, I smiled. Kaduna State does not have any club in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) and the Nigeria National League (NNL); the only time Kaduna State Government supports sports are during the National Youth Games and National Sports Festival (with prayers). The various sporting associations get little or no support from the State Government led by Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai.

Dear Sunday Dare, be rest assured that once you sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to handover ABS to Kaduna State Government, hundreds of thousands of youth will not have access to sporting facilities to train for national and international engagements. Due to the rate of kidnapping in the state, the only safe place to engage in sporting/recreational activities is the Ahmadu Bello Stadium.

The Kaduna State Football League (KSFL) that produces football stars across the world will die a natural death, our annual Inter Local Government Area (LGA) football competition, the football academies will not have access to training pitches; the Athletics Association will not have tracks to train their athletes for subsequent championships, the badminton athletes will not have courts to train; families can't engage in their regular rituals on weekends. Kaduna State might not have access to watch Nigeria Premier Football League again due to the forthcoming draconic policy that will be put in place by the Governor.

The legacy of the Sardauna of Sokoto, the first and only Former Premier of Northern Nigeria, masterminded Northern Nigeria through the independence of Nigeria in 1960, Sir Ahmadu Bello will be destroyed TOTALLY if this move of handing over the AB Stadium is done.

Let me use the words of one of the Presidential candidates in the forthcoming election, "GO AND VERIFY" from the good people of Kaduna State before making this huge mistake that will not only cost sports lovers in the state but the other 18 Northern States. 

I want to appeal to  President Muhammadu Buhari to review his approval for the handing over of Ahmadu Bello Stadium and save the only existing sports facilities.

God bless Kaduna State,

God bless Nigeria.

Sunday Dare congratulates Tonobok Okowa on African Athletics Regional Presidential victory

 

Sports Minister Sunday Dare has joined millions of compatriots to congratulate the president of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Chief Tonobok Okowa on his election as the president of African Athletics Region 2, West Africa on Saturday.

Consequently, the election victory also means Okowa has become one of the vice presidents of the Confederation African Athletics (CAA).

Dare expressed his delight at the victory of the Delta state-born sports administrator, stating that it comes as good news to Nigeria.

“I’m glad at this victory and I’m also not surprised that Okowa has ascended to the level of international leadership in athletics. He has paid his dues from the grassroots, in Delta State and now he is performing creditably at the national level.

“He has performed well since he emerged president of the AFN. Nigeria had a good outing at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon, our athletes were incredibly fantastic at the Commonwealth Games and even at the African Youth Athletics Championship. Without doubt, his role in these successes were major.”

Okowa, who is also the chairman of Delta State Sports Commission claimed the victory in Ghana, contesting against Vierin DeGon of the Benin Republic, Togo’s Tchanile Salifuo Falilatou and Oually Sara of Senegal in the first round. He clinched his victory at the second round against DeGon with nine votes to six.

He will now become one of the vice presidents to Cameroon’s Hamad Malboum, who heads the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA).