The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Deji Tinubu

  • Lagos hosts beach soccer African tourney

    Lagos hosts beach soccer African tourney

    The Lagos State Government is to build five new stadia in the different divisions of the state in its quest to promote excellence in sports and market the state through sports tourism.

    The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde, made the assertion on Wednesday in Lagos while unveiling Lagos as the Host City, Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations 2016.

    Ayorinde said that the five stadia were already captured in the state’s 2017 budget proposal.

    He said that Lagos as the Centre of Excellence had been number one in sports and entertainment and believed in using sports to sell the mega city.

    Ayorinde said that the government was sponsoring the 2nd Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations, holding from Dec. 13 to Dec. 18 at the Eko Atlantic, because it believed in showcasing not just sports but its tourism potential.

    He noted that two major components had been built into the hosting — sports and tourism, arts and entertainment — to achieve the state’s quest to make Lagos the sports hub in Africa.

    Ayorinde said that the government had partnered with countries that excel in sports and many organisations to promote a culture of sports.

    “As you can see, FC Barcelona Youth Academy had started in Lagos because Barca has an ally in the state.

    “The state government has planned a package for the Yuletide which will commence immediately the competition ended with the first ever Lagos City Carnival.

    “It will also organise the Lagos State fiesta which will hold simultaneously in Badagry, Epe, Ikorodu, Lagos Mainland and Lagos Island divisions, ending on Dec. 31.

    “This year’s events have been well planned to ensure that people relaxed and enjoyed themselves during the Christmas and New year festivities under tight security,’’ he said.

    The Chairman, Lagos State Sports Commission, Deji Tinubu, said that Lagos was hosting because it wanted to showcase the excellence of Lagos through sports.

    Tinubu said that the state had created more opportunities and varieties partnering with organisations, noting: “We are trying to create a sports culture where everybody can get into sports.

    “Copa Lagos has been running for six years but we are redefining beach soccer. We want Lagos to be a sports destination’’.

    He said that there would be bus shuttle from different locations for fans wishing to be at the venue to cheer the teams at the six-day event.

    He added that there would be events to showcase Lagos at the opening and closing ceremonies.

    The President, Nigeria Football Federation, AmajuPnnick, thanked Gov. AkinwunmiAmbode for hosting the event, noting that the hosting “will redefine beach soccer in its annals’’.

  • 48th Asoju Oba Molade Okoya-Thomas Cup serves off Nov 21

    48th Asoju Oba Molade Okoya-Thomas Cup serves off Nov 21

    Dubbed the foremost sporting competition in the country, the 48th edition of the annual Asoju Oba Molade Okoya-Thomas Table Tennis Cup serves off on Monday November 21 with 22 titles at stake.
    Speaking at the press briefing to unveil packages for this year’s championship, Ayodeji Okoya-Thomas however, used the occasion to pledge the family’s resolve to continue to stage the tournament after the demise of the initiator, late Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas, who passed on two years ago.
    Ayodeji Okoya-Thomas said that for this year’s the women singles title would be renamed and known as Lady Olivet Okoya-Thomas Women’s trophy after their late mother.
    “This of course will be the second, after 46 years, that is not being addressed by the initiator and sole sponsor of the tournament, Sir Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas. One of his greatest wish while alive was that the family should continue the sponsorship of the tournament after his demise; we would therefore like to give God all the glory for giving the grace to continue this noble legacy for the second year running, since he was called to glory.
    From this year the women’s singles trophy is now renamed ‘Lady Olivet Okoya-Thomas’ women’s trophy in honour of our late mother, lady Chief (Mrs) Olivet Abosede Okoya-Thomas who was a pillar of support to our late father, the visioner and sole sponsor of the championship,” he said.
    For the Chairman, Lagos State Sports Commission, Deji Tinubu, the state would continue to support the tournament which had become the breeding ground for most of the country’s top players.
    “I must say that this is the foremost sporting competition in this country and seeing some of the champions still connected to the championships showed the good organisation that the competition has continued to enjoy. I am pledging the support of the state to the tournament and we hope more top players can come through again like other top stars like Olufunke Oshonaike, Atanda Musa and a host of others.
    The tournament begins on Monday November 21 with the grand finale scheduled for November 25 at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium.

  • Deji Tinubu lauds organsiers

    The Chairman of Lagos State Sports Commission, Deji Tinubu has pledged the state’s government support for boxing. He said he was impressed with the consistency of the monthly “Saturday Boxing Show’’.

    Addressing boxing fans at the 72nd Monthly Saturday Boxing Show held at Rowe Park, Yaba, Tinubu praised the Lagos Boxing Hall Fame (LBHF), chaired by Mr Olawale Edun, a former Lagos State Commissioner for Finance, for promoting the initiative and further affirmed that the state government would provide the means wherever there is a people-driven and well-organised event.

    “The Lagos State government, under the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode is committed to supporting the boxing fraternity and will do all it can to ensure that the competition continues to be a success.

    “This is the first time I am attending this event and I must confess I am very impressed with what I have seen so far. The organisation has been top notch and the fans have been well behaved. Kudos to LBHF, headed by Mr Edun. It is no mean feat to sponsor a tournament like this every month since 2009,” he said.

    Meanwhile, during the competition ,Olusegun Mustapha of Suny Clay Boxing Club beat Rasheed Shola from Hard Punch Boxing Club and Okunola Adejoke from Muslim College, Oworo defeated Aromokola Fatima from Future Day College, Amukoko in the female 57kg event.

    The other female contest  was a one sided affair as Adijat Gbadamosi of Ribadullahi Senior Secondary School knocked out her challenger, Ikushimo Funmilayo of Ifesowapo High School, Aboru in the third round to win the 48kg weight category fight. Ali Abubakar of Golden Boxing Club defeated Ademola Gbenga of Olu-Omo Boxing Club by a technical knock out in the first round.

    Mustapha Rilwan from Victory College, Ojo defeated Akintayo Aminu from Cardoso Senior Secondary School, Amukoko in the 48 kg category, while Yakubu Ibrahim from Platinum Hammed Secondary School, Aboru was overpowered by Ewusho Adefemi from Odogbolu Grammar School, Ikorodu in the 60kg category. Ewusho won the best boxer of the day award and went home with  N20,000  and a scholarship from the Lagos Sport Commission.

    “Lagos State is committed to the development of sports and education concurrently that is why the sports commission will take care of school fees of the best boxer of day. This is to show him there are rewards for hard-work and to ensure he remains in school,” Tinubu said.

  • Players yearn for more squash tournaments

    After the successful staging of the first major squash tournament by the Lagos State Squash Association (LSSA), some of the national players are yearning for more of such tournaments that will enable help shoot up their world rating.

    Men’s singles champion, Wale Amao believes having more competitions would aid the growth of the game as well as prepare the players for major championships within and outside the continent.

    Like Amao, women’s singles winner, Yemisi Olatunji urged the corporate bodies to support the sport across the country.

    “This victory will surely add to my points. ‎Now I will be around 120 in the world for the ranking. Next level is to travel for tournaments so I can gain more points and before you know it, I will be world 50, world 20.

    “Next month, I’m going for a tournament in South Africa. I just want to use this medium to import government and corporate organizations to support squash players more. If we have sponsors, it will be easier for us to travel out for tournaments,” she said.

    However, Chairman, Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC), Deji Tinubu has promised to support the association in their efforts to organise U-19 league.

    “We are going to sit with the association and they will come up with the logistics and how they want to start the U-19 league. Ours is just to create an enabling environment and also to support because it is very important that at that age we need to keep them focused. We want to encourage, we want to support.

    “If the U-19 squash players know that they have a regular competition, they will stick to it and develop horn their talents,” Tinubu said

  • ABL secures partnership with Lagos State Government

    ABL secures partnership with Lagos State Government

    Preparations are in top gear for the debut of the first ever Pan African Basketball League (ABL) in the history of Africa, Africa Basketball League as the league has sealed a major partnership deal with the Lagos State Government through its Sports Council.

    The new deal was announced in a Press Conference on March 3rd at the Teslim Balogun Stadium by Ugo Udezue, ABL Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and the Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos State on Sports, Deji Tinubu.

    Deji commended the efforts of the ABL, calling the partnership a worthwhile partnership which would provide employment and bring Lagos onto the world map for sports.

    He further stated that Lagos State is willing to partner with anyone who will bring positive light to sports in Lagos.
    In a swift reaction, the CEO of ABL stated that ‘’One of the ABL’s core value is to drive local content by producing all ABL accessories and merchandise locally thereby generating economic growth, sports tourism ,employment and developing the African youth both in character and potentials.”

    The Director General Lagos State Sports Commission, Ayo Agbesanwa, Chairman Lagos State Basketball Association, Babs Ogunade and the CEO of Wakanow, Obinna Ekezie amongst others were present at the briefing.

    The ABL is a pan African league that starts with three teams in Lagos, one respectively in Dakar, Abidjan and Libreville. The expansion plan of the ABL will have a minimum of one team in thirty (30) African countries within five years.

    The African Basketball League will tip off on March 5th at the Landmark Event Centre.

    Tickets are now available here.

    The ABL is proudly supported by TRACE, Union Bank, Wakanow, Cornerstone Insurance, Cruz Vodka, THE BEAT 99.9FM , Pulse.ng, ASKY Airline and the Lagos State

  • Tributes as 47th Asoju Oba serves off Nov. 30

    The good deeds of late Sir Molade Okoya-Thomas cum his immense contribution to sports development in Nigeria overshadowed the press conference to herald the kick off of the 47th edition of the annual table tennis championship tagged Asoju Oba Cup. The competition serves off on November 30 to December 4 at the Sir Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium.

    From the Chairman, Lagos State Sports Commission, Deji Tinubu to virtually all the dignitaries that graced the briefing, it was moment of tributes for the late industrialist, who remained the longest sponsor of a sporting event in Nigeria.

    The quality of the personalities that attended the event attested to the fact the departed business mogul remained in the heart of those who loved him.

    Also some of the players that had featured and won the tournament since inception in the 1960s could not hide their feeling over the good deeds of Okoya-Thomas.

    According to Deji Okoya-Thomas, this year’s tournament would be unique being the first in the last 46 years that the initiator and sponsor would not be addressed.

    Reminiscing on his late father’s wish, he said: “One of his greatest wishes while alive was that the family should continue the sponsorship of the tournament after his demise. We would therefore like to give God all the glory for giving us the enablement to continue this noble legacy.”

    He however, added: “From this year, the name of the tournament has been changed from Asoju Oba Table Tennis Championship to Asoju Oba Molade Okoya-Thomas Table Tennis Championship.”

    As usual, 22 titles would be at stake with the para event making its third presence at the tournament.

    For the chairman of Lagos State Sports Commission, Deji Tinubu, the state would continue to support the legacy of the initiator of the tournament. He however, pledged that the commission would unveil its contribution to this year’s edition soon.

  • I have unfinished business with Nigeria – Keshi

    I have unfinished business with Nigeria – Keshi

    Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi, has expressed his desire to extend his contract with Nigeria.

    The AFCON-winning coach in a chat with africanFootball.com from his base in the United States said:”Yes, I met with Deji Tinubu in Lagos before heading out for America to see my family.

    “It’s my country, I am ready to serve. I have started something I would love to finish.”

    However, Keshi quickly added the working conditions for his new deal have to be better than what he had previously.

    “But I cannot work the way I worked last time. It’s not possible! All my staff, no!no!!no!! We have to be professional, everybody has to do what they are supposed to do,” he stated.

    “I cannot be paying another staff salary, when I am not the Nigeria Football Federation. We will see how it goes. If the conditions are met, we will be there, no wahala.”

    In the meantime, the NFF has disclosed to africanFootball.com that it will forward a letter of intent for contract renewal this week to the former Super Eagles captain.

    Tinubu, the Head of a three-man committee for Keshi’s contract renewal, said: “We have made tremendous progress.

    “We will first send a letter of our intent for a renewal of his contract and expect a reply from him as quickly as possible.

    “This would allow us to start working on the terms of contract. We would have our terms and we know he would have his terms. But we would be working in such a way that we would arrive at an agreeable term that would suit both parties and then hopefully he signs.

    “We can’t put a time limit on this, but we hope we are done with it as quick as possible considering that we have a game in September,” Tinubu stated.

     

  • NFF chief Maigari impeached

    NFF chief Maigari impeached

    The President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Aminu Maigari, was on Thursday impeached by the Federation’s executive committee members.

    The members took the decision during Thursday’s executive committee meeting in Abuja, kickOffNigeria.com reports.

    Maigari was accused of “uncalled-for secrecy” surrounding all financial dealings of the Federation and failure to call meeting of the executive committee for the past eight months, during which so many weighty decisions on Nigeria football had been taken by a small cabal within the board.

    Consequently, in a motion for impeachment moved by Shehu Adamu and seconded by Deji Tinubu, the committee passed a vote of no confidence on the NFF president.

    A communiqué at the end of the meeting stated that “the committee approved the immediate dismissal of Alhaji Aminu Maigari, from the NFF Executive Committee on grounds of financial misappropriation, misapplication and maladministration.”

    The body’s First Vice President, Mike Umeh, was appointed Acting President, to preside over the affairs of the Federation till the August 26 elections.