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Tag: Habu Gumel

  • Gumel warns against drug abuse  in  Nigerian communitie

    Gumel warns against drug abuse  in  Nigerian communitie

    The President of Commonwealth Games Nigeria, Engr. Habu Gumel, has observed that the twin challenges of drug use and abuse among youths will destroy communities if society does not take steps to address the issue.

    Gumel made this observation during a speech marking the celebration of this year’s Commonwealth Day recently.

    The event took place at the Nigeria Olympic Committee Sports Ground in the Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos.

    The main objective of the program is to uphold the fundamental values of the Commonwealth by promoting unity, equity, and youth empowerment.

    Gumel noted that the consumption and abuse of drugs have assumed a dangerous proportion among youths and is even threatening to destroy them.

    He said: “This is one fight that all—parents, teachers, and the government—should join hands in tackling. Unless addressed head-on, our communities should be ready to face the dire consequences.

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    “The purpose of the effort was to provide an avenue for social interaction among the youths by encouraging healthy communication and collaboration among them.”

    The Secretary-General, Babatunde Popoola, represented the President, Gumel.

    Participants were drawn from four secondary schools around the Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos.

    A medical officer, Dr. Olubukola Bojuwoye, served as the resource person who worked with the students.

    He educated them on the proper use of drugs and the inherent dangers of drug addiction and abuse.

    “Using drugs can make or mar you, but the ultimate choice is yours.”

    The one-day event was coordinated by NOC Assistant Secretary in Charge of Commonwealth Games Affairs, Austin Odigie.

  • NLTF donates sports equipment to 45 primary schools in Ekiti

    NLTF donates sports equipment to 45 primary schools in Ekiti

    In continuation of its efforts to promote sports at the grassroots, the Federal Government has donated sports equipment to 45 public primary schools across the 16 local government areas of Ekiti.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the equipment were donated through the National Lottery Trust Fund (NLTF) to schools at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, Ado-Ekiti.

    Some of the beneficiaries are St. John’s Primary School, Irele-Ekiti, St. Micheal Primary School, Ijero-Ekiti and Ebenezer Primary Cchool, Ipoti-Ekiti.

    NAN reports that sports equipment were distributed in nine sports ‎of Volleyball, Handball, Judo, Table Tennis, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Football and Taekwando.

    The Executive Secretary of NLTF, Habu Gumel, said the equipment was for the advancement, and promotion of sports development, education, social services, public welfare and relief.

    Gumel noted that “the equipment is primarily to enhance the nation’s capacity to grow and expand its talent-base by the interest and involvement of the children of primary school age in sports activities is realised in the country.

    “We are confident that the intervention will lead to the discovery of new talents in sports that abound in our communities and rural areas and also assist their physical and professional development’’.

    The NLTF boss reaffirmed President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration’s commitment to advancing grassroots sports development.

    He said that equipping public primary schools with quality sports equipment through funding from the NLTF was a clear demonstration of government’s desire to foster better inclusion of the most vulnerable segments of the society, especially the school children.

    Gumel, warned stakeholders to put the equipment to good use in the schools and ensure their proper security.

    “You must ensure the safekeeping of this equipment so that they do not get stolen.’’

    He added that they had alerted security agencies to apprehend any culprit who diverted the Federal Government intervention materials.

    The South-West Zonal Coordinator of NLTF, Mrs Hajara Buhari‎, said the major objective of the programme was to develop sports at the grassroots, especially among primary schools.

    Buhari said theNLTF was established to promote sports in primary schools in states of the federation as a way to encourage participation in sports.

    NAN reports that the equipment distributed were for Volleyball, Handball, Judo, Table Tennis, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Football and Taekwando.

  • Gumel, Oladapo make IOC Commission

    Gumel, Oladapo make IOC Commission

    President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Habu Gumel and former Secretary General of NOC, Oladapo Olabanji have made the list of members of International Olympic Committee (IOC) Commission.

    The composition of the IOC commissions for 2017 was announced yesterday with an increase of 70 per cent in female participation since September 2013. The commissions also reflect a broader geographical representation and include a number of new faces from a new generation who will be the leaders of tomorrow.

    Gumel was listed in three commissions while Oladapo is a member of the 19-man Communication Commission.
    Gummel belongs to Commissions of Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Olympic Games Evaluation and is Africa’s representative in the six-man Delegate Member of Broadcast Rights Commission.

    In a statement issued by IOC, President Thomas Bach has significantly increased the number of women appointed to a commission since his election, with 38 per cent of places now taken by women – a historic high. That is a 70 per cent increase since 2013. In 2017, 29 more positions are held by women across the 26 IOC commissions than in 2016, and female members are present on each of them.

    The changes to the function and composition of the commissions, which are effected by the IOC President working closely with the IOC Executive Board, also include increases in the number of members from America, Africa and Asia, thus guaranteeing a more global and diverse continental representation.

    “These changes are aligned with the implementation of Olympic Agenda 2020 and show that a stronger participation of women and a more diversified continental representation are our top priorities,” said IOC President Bach.
    “The diversity of members guarantees interesting and more inclusive discussions and reflects the Olympic Movement’s commitment to universality,” he added.

    The new make-up of the IOC commissions, which provide assistance to the IOC and Olympic Games Organising Committees, is also marked by the inclusion of young men and women who represent a new generation and will be the sports leaders of tomorrow. Since 2010, each edition of the Youth Olympic Games has welcomed and generated a group of Young Ambassadors who are still active today in their sport, in their territory or in their community. Seven of these talented ambassadors (of whom six are women) have joined the commissions to give youth a stronger, louder and clearer voice within the Movement.

  • President Buhari assures on Nigeria’s participation in 2018 Commonwealth Games

    President Buhari assures on Nigeria’s participation in 2018 Commonwealth Games

    President Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerians that the country would participate with an adequately prepared contingent in the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.

    Buhari gave the assurance as he received the Queens Baton Relay in Lagos on Monday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth II, flagged off the Queen’s Baton Relay on March 13 in London which coincided with the Commonwealth Day.

    “It’s a great pleasure to receive the Queen’s Baton Relay in Nigeria. The Baton is expected to move round all the Commonwealth nations.

    “Next year’s edition, which is the 21st Commonwealth Games, will mark Nigeria’s fifth participation in the Queen’s Relay. The Queen’s Baton Relay is a challenge for us to prepare for the Games.

    “We plan to send a ready team of athletes to the Games with the hope of surpassing our past records in terms of medal haul,’’ said Buhari, represented by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung.

    “We will not relent in our role of ensuring that athletes are equipped with adequate resources for training and participation in the competition.

    “Government must invest and transform training facilities and uplift the technical men. We will continue to pursue this as a noble policy that will take Nigeria forward.’’

    He said that Buhari couldn’t come to receive the Queen’s Baton Relay personally and asked him to do that on his behalf and that of the entire sport-loving Nigerians.

    Habu Gumel, the President, Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), welcoming the Queen’s Baton Relay and the five delegates that accompanied it, said that Nigeria had been a strong force in the Commonwealth sports community.

    “Since our debut in the 1950 Commonwealth Games in Auckland, New Zealand, our nation’s profile at the quadrennial Games has been on the rise.

    “Nigerian athletes have never failed to prove their mettle in placing our nation on the scoreboard of this global sporting fiesta.

    “For our nation to sustain the winning momentum at the Commonwealth level, we will require all the support of both the public and private sector, especially in the area of funding.

    “ This will ensure adequate preparation for the participation of our contingent. We therefore, solicit the continuous support of everyone.

    “At our level, the Nigerian Commonwealth and the Olympic family through our collaborations with the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has continually offered athletes and coaches opportunities for training and personal development through international scholarships and technical courses,’’ he said.

    The Australian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Lehmann, said the Queen’s Baton Relay came with a message of peace and goodwill to all Nigerians.

    Lehmann said that Australia was proud to be hosting the Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast.

    “It is my pleasure to celebrate the stories and successes of Nigerians athletes as the Baton makes its way through the beautiful city Lagos.

    “Australia and Nigeria are nations of sport lovers. I believe sports can support the ambitions of all people regardless of age, background, gender or ability.

    “The people to people link between Australia and Nigeria grow stronger each year and we look forward to welcoming Nigerian athletes to Australia in 2018,’’ he said.

    Lehmann said it’s believed that Australia is far but it’s the distance that makes us closer.

    “There are so many tourists sites that Nigerians can visit while in Australia. Our level of hospitality can’t be compared,’’ he said.

    He noted that for the first time, the physically challenged will be participating in the Communication Games.

    “The physically challenged and the able-bodied athletes will all have the same number if events to participate in,’’ he said.

    Among the dignitaries at the event are Hauwa Kulu-Akinyemi, the Chairman Local Organising Committee for Queen’s Baton Relay, the Athletics federation of Nigeria (AFN) President, Solomon Ogba and former NOC President, Sanni Ndanusa.

    NAN reports that Olympians and Paralympians were also present and among them were renowned former athletes Yusuf Alli, Falilat Ogunkoya, Chioma Ajunwa and Henry Amike.

    Students from the Pacelli School for the Blind, Surulere, Atunda-Olu School for the Physically and Mentally challenged, Surulere, Wesley School for the Hearing Impaired, Surulere and Children Development Center, Surulere attended.

  • Three parastatal chiefs re-appointed

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday approved the re-appointment of the Director of the National Teachers’ Institute, Kaduna, Dr. Aminu Ladan, and the Executive Secretary of the National Lottery Trust Fund, Mr. Habu Gumel.

    Also re-appointed, according to the News Agency of Nigeria is Mrs. Taiwo Akande, the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, in Ekiti.

    This is contained in a statement from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim.

    The statement, which was signed by the SGF’s Media Assistant, Mr. Sam Nwaobasi, said that Ladan’s re-appointment took effect from February 1, while that of Gumel and Akande will take effect from December 1, and December 19 respectively.

     

  • Nigerian returns un-opposed in ANOCA poll

    Habu Gumel, Nigeria’s representative at the International Olympic Committee (IOC), has been re-elected the Treasurer-General of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA).

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gumel’s re-election was at ANOCA’s 15th Ordinary Elective General Assembly on Friday in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire, with 53 member-nations present.

    Gumel, regarded as “Nigeria’s Ambassador’’ to the IOC, was returned unopposed after two other candidates from Mali and Botswana pulled out of the election.

    Habbib Sissoko of Mali and Negroes Malealea Kgosietsile of Botswana had written letters of withdrawal to the African Olympic body that they were standing down for “a worthy candidate.”

    ANOCA’s close sources, however, told NAN at the assembly that the two candidates had earlier filed their nominations papers after they had been misinformed that Nigeria was no longer interested in the position.

    Gumel, who stoutly denied the allegation, also put up a strong case to convince the electorate.

    He was later, during the plenary session, declared fully qualified for the election after his past expenditures and the budget were passed.

    An elated Gumel told NAN that he was happy to have won, saying that his immediate tasks would be the early completion of the ANOCA permanent secretariat at Abuja.

    “My immediate task on returning to Nigeria is to ensure the full completion of the ANOCA building in Abuja, so that ANOCA can settle in Nigeria.

    “This is part of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the Federal Government of Nigeria and ANOCA. As a member of the executive committee, I will work hard to accomplish this task.

    “I also want to help my country to develop the youth programme through ANOCA. This is possible with cooperation with the National Sports Commission,’’ Gumel said.