HillCity Foundation at the weekend in Lagos celebrated its 20th year anniversary tagged; ‘Beyond Impact.’
The foundation has given over 2,500 university scholarships in Nigeria and Uganda with its students in more than 170 universities in Nigeria. It plans to expand to 10 African countries by the time it clocks 25.
In his keynote address, the founder, Obi Imemba, an engineer, explained that it was 20 years of intentional decision that has made the foundation what it is today.
He said: “HillCity was born out of the need to solve the challenges in our society. There are young people out of school; nobody to show them direction. Few of us came together to form HillCity and the goal is to discover, develop and direct them to the right direction. And we do this through education and our support in sponsoring their university programme. We also sponsor them in economic empowerment programme, – startup businesses and also give them mentorship.
“There is a fourth programme we call Self Discovery Programme. With these four programme we call the ‘4 axis of impact’, we are able to develop the total being. We have been doing this for 20 years consistently and we have received a lot of support from members that partnered with us. We have not received anything from government and we do not intend to do that.
“We are here to provide social support to the society and not to draw from government. And the next level for us is that we want to change the narrative in Africa. We want to harness, package and convert into wealth creation on a sustainable basis, the abundant energy in young people in Africa.”
The event, which was anchored by Omoba and Carol Braide, witnessed the induction of three new graduates who were mentees to mentors. Andrew Rugasira from Uganda and Dr. Valentine Obi were given Special Recognition awards while William Sunday received the Personality award.
Teach for Nigeria has appointed Ayodele Olajiga, a member of its board of trustees, as Interim chief executive officer to replace Folawe Omikunle after nine years of leadership.
Ayodele has an Electronics and Electrical Engineering degree from Obafemi Awolowo University, MBA from Kellogg School of Management, and Master’s in Telecommunications from New Jersey Institute of Technology.
A certified executive and business coach, he is dedicated to educational equity and leadership. A founding member, Ayodele drives our mission to ensure every child attains fine education.
Folawe’s journey with Teach for Nigeria began in 2015 as a Programme manager before becoming chief executive officer in 2016. Under her guidance, Teach for Nigeria has impacted 160,000 children and placed 1,500 fellows in more than 600 low-income schools in Lagos, Kaduna, Ogun, and Oyo states. The impact of Folawe’s leadership was evident in publications by RAND Corporation, which showed “students taught by TFN Fellows achieved 2-3 months of learning gains in literacy and 2-5 months in numeracy compared to their peers in non-TFN classrooms.”
In a farewell, Folawe said: “Working with you has been fulfilling. We nurtured leaders, and I am proud of what we achieved.”
Board Chair, Kunle Elebute, said: “Folawe is an example of an exceptional leader. The team appreciates her leadership and wishes her well. I welcome Ayodele Olajiga and look forward to working with him to drive the mission of Teach for Nigeria.”
Olajiga said: “I am honoured to be appointed interim chief executive officer. Together, we will build on the foundation laid by Folawe, mobilising more leaders to expand educational and life opportunities for one million children annually.”
Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Shri Balasubramanian and Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action (SPEC), Ajuri Ngelale yesterday discussed new partnership opportunities in green industrial development.
It was during their meeting at the State House, Abuja.
The discussion also centred on building on the commitment of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration.
According to a statement by Ngelale, the two officials agreed on concrete steps to strengthen cooperation between the two nations, leveraging their shared aspirations for economic growth and development.
“Wednesday brought good tidings and quality results to Nigeria’s green industrial drive as I welcomed the Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Shri Balasubramanian to the State House, before the Federal Executive Council meeting, to detail new green industrial partnership opportunities with the administration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which has proved to be one of the world’s most committed governments on green industrial development.
“We have agreed on actionable next steps in this sphere at a time when the two most populous democracies in Asia and Africa have many shared aspirations for their economies in the present and the future”, Ngelale said.
After the Federal Executive Council meeting, Ngelale also met with Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule and Infrastructure Corporation of Nigeria (InfraCorp) Managing Director, Dr. Lazarus Angbazo, to advance plans for Africa’s first eco-industrial park, Evergreen City.
According to him, the discussions yielded significant progress and a set of time-bound next steps, paving the way for the project’s successful implementation.
“After the Federal Executive Council meeting, we were privileged to exchange views with the Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule, on the establishment of Africa’s first eco-industrial park, Evergreen City.
“In the company of the Managing Director of the Infrastructure Corporation of Nigeria (InfraCorp), Dr. Lazarus Angbazo, we recorded tremendous progress in our discussions, and a deliverable set of time-bound next steps were agreed to”, he said.
Sir: Nobel Laurette Professor Wole Soyinka once described Nigerians that belong to his age group as a wasted generation. This is probably true not only of Soyinka’s generation but also of the ones after it, including the millennials and Gen Z generations.
How come a country like Nigeria with a very high population of youth is suffering in many areas where the youth are expected to utilize their energy to the country’s advantage?
It is a case of abdication of responsibilities by successive generations. For instance, the cost of food items has skyrocketed beyond the reach of the ordinary man on the street because Nigerians abandoned agriculture a long time ago. Agriculture ought to be the backbone of our economy. It once occupied that position but this is no longer the case.
Nigeria has all it takes to be a net exporter of food to other countries. There are arable lands where all types of foodstuffs can be cultivated in all 36 states of the federation. If young Nigerians were to be involved in agriculture, the country would have had more than enough food to eat and export to other countries.
There is no shame in being a farmer. Farming ought to be inculcated in the school curriculum and made part and parcel of school programmes in primary and secondary institutions. This way, youths would imbibe the culture early in life. As a result, each state would concentrate on the crops that are favourable to its environment and the young ones would key into it. Yams, potatoes, cassava, fruits, maize and all sorts of grains and vegetables would be cultivated in different parts of the country.
If the soil in Edo State favours cassava, palm trees, rubber, yams, rice and others the government should provide the enabling environment for the youths to engage in the cultivation of such crops. If the weather in Plateau State favours the cultivation of potatoes, millet, grains and what have you, then the government should get the youths engaged in the cultivation of such crops. This way, they would be self-sufficient in the cultivation of food and cash crops.
It is not ideal for consumers to begin to wait for tomatoes, onions and okra to travel a distance of almost 1,200 kilometres before they can get these items to eat. This is absurd. Let states begin to beat their chest about the food they can put on the table for their people and not look at what they don’t have as the yardstick in measuring revenues and incomes.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari once described Nigerian youths are a lazy set of people. In my opinion, Buhari is right and wrong. He is right because, by orientation, they have been brought up to believe in paper qualifications and white-collar jobs. When you go around the country, you will discover that the jobs that are supposed to be done by the youths are left for the elderly ones; as many youths see agriculture, for instance, as something beneath them. They think it is meant for the elderly and those who did not go through primary and secondary education.
Take a look at construction sites littered across the country, all you can see are the elderly, while the youths are busy night and day fiddling with their phones, searching for mostly illegitimate opportunities to make money.
But the former president is also wrong in the sense that there is nothing wrong with the Nigerian youths as human beings. They are just victims of the society that produced them. They are only exhibiting the kind of parental background, education and orientation that they passed through in their formative years.
As it is often said with regards to computer programming, it is garbage in and garbage out; parents cannot give what they do not have, as they too lack the wherewithal to bring up children who are required to take the country to the next level in its development.
Over the past six decades of Nigeria’s independence from the colonial masters, it is mortifying to imagine the current place of Nigeria in the world economy. Growing up, I could boast that Nigeria earned its title ‘Giant of Africa’ due to its development, diversity, and economic situation. What was regarded as a blessing in the 19th century currently stands as the bane of Nigeria. I have seen first-hand, how this diversity, while a potential strength, often becomes a source of division. For Nigeria to achieve its full potential in growth and development, it’s important to transcend these tribal and ethnic divisions.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s history, I am often amazed by the lasting impact of colonialism on a nation as large and diverse. Nigeria’s borders were drawn by colonialists, joining over 200 ethnic groups and tribes into a single nation for the convenience of governance for them. The vast diversity and numbers remain proof that Nigeria was never meant to be a country but more. Colonial amalgamation created a nation-state with nothing but ethnic divisions, distrust, and tribal war. Situations that warrant proper consideration weren’t considered. The colonial masters didn’t consider our cultural, linguistic, and historical differences. Consequently, Nigeria inherited a legacy of division that continues to influence our politics and development.
Clearly, it is obvious that the only advantage and collaborations of these historical divisions and how Nigerians are interwoven is through marriage. Every weekend, there are definitely Yoruba and Igbo owambe and other inter-ethnic marriages. Many Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa individuals married across ethnic lines, forming bonds that transcend tribal identities. Visit Kano, and see the high number of Yoruba women married to northerners. These inter-ethnic relationships only further complicate the notion of separation.
Prominent individuals own properties around the country, ignoring their ethnicity. This is another major reason why these individuals would rather watch Nigeria burn down rather than split into nations.
The role that tribe plays in Nigerian politics cannot be over-emphasized. Politics fosters nation’s growth and development, but our tribal sentiments are the major driving force of our politics. Political decisions, budget allocations, and developmental initiatives are often influenced by ethnic and religious considerations. I am saddened by the fact that Nigerians’ major deciding factor for voting is tribe and not credibility and competence in the 20th century. It is only during Nigerians elections that voting patterns are frequently divided along ethnic and religious lines, removing the basis of democratic process and hindering national unity. Nigerians will fight tooth and nail during elections to support a tribal brother regardless of their competence. Cease regional development due to tribal sentiments. Politicians are tightly woven regardless of their tribe and religion but will push this as an agenda during competition. Public offices, resource allocation, and development projects are frequently distributed based on ethnic affiliations rather than on need or competence. This not only hampers development but also fosters resentment and division among different ethnic groups.
David Easton, a renowned political scientist, said that for a political system in a country to be stable and effective, it must manage conflicts and build a sense of community among its members. This means that Nigerians must first build loyalty and trust to themselves, above ethnic and religious barriers, in order to create a political environment where all citizens feel represented and valued. To build a stable and effective political system, Nigeria must eradicate ethnic barriers and promote loyalty on the national level rather than an ethnic agenda. We must learn to stop the dog-eat-dog acts and stand up for the nation.
Michael Samora, a sociologist, argued that a nation divided by ethnic and tribal lines cannot achieve sustainable growth. This theory is further proven by the current Nigerian society. Social integration, according to Samora, involves creating policies and institutions that promote inclusivity and equal opportunities for all citizens, regardless of their ethnic backgrounds. Samora’s theory shows the need to eradicate ethnic divisions to foster social collaboration.
Many Nigerians’ ethnic loyalties often override national loyalty, leading to social fragmentation and conflict. The 2023 election has shown how tribally inclined many Nigerians are, including the youths. Politicians set the hooks, like fishes, citizens pick the bait. Driving their agenda, my brother must rule. Only a particular fraction of Nigerians are a step ahead of the norm, showing their support for another candidate. Without a cohesive society where individuals are valued for their contributions to national development rather than their ethnic affiliations, Nigeria remains decades from development.
Going through Easton and Samora’s theories, I can firmly assert that Nigeria’s growth and development depends on the eradication of the concept of tribe and ethnicity. Ethnic divisions create barriers to effective governance, social collaboration, and economic development. They breed mistrust, fuel conflicts, and perpetuate inequality. When we as citizens identify more with their ethnic groups than with the nation, it becomes challenging to mobilize collective efforts toward national goals. For Nigeria to achieve sustainable growth and development, we must transcend our tribal and ethnic divisions. The insights from David Easton and Michael Samora portray the need for the removal of tribe and ethnic as an important attribute to identify as a Nigerian. It is either you are a Nigerian or not a Nigerian. Being Nigerian should come first.
As a pan-Yoruba individual does not affect my rationality, I prioritize development over ethnic loyalty, but this cannot be said for millions of Nigerians. The truth remains, Nigeria’s glory will return with the abolishment of tribes. Otherwise, we are in for a long ride. But if we cannot put Nigeria first above our tribes, it is better we go the USSR way – peaceful dissolution of the amalgamation of 1914.
•Adeleye is a Strategic Communications Expert and Real Estate Broker based in the United Kingdom.
Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, has urged Nigerian athletes to compete favourably and achieve podium performances at the forthcoming 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.
Senator Enoh said as much yesterday in Abuja during the official handover and farewell ceremony of the Team Nigeria contingent to the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympic Games as well as the official unveiling of Team Nigeria’s kits at the quadriennial event.
In his address, the minister urged the contingent to strive for podium performance at the Games, emphasizing the importance of hard work and dedication.
He announced that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has fully approved the budget for the Games, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to excellence in sports. He therefore tasked members of Team Nigeria to make the President and the entire country proud in Paris.
“We have no excuse whatsoever,” Senator Enoh was quoted as saying in a release signed by his Special Assistant(Media), Diana-Mary Nsan. “The President has approved the entire budget for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, so it is up to us to try to reciprocate the goodwill of the President and give him reasons to continue to do more. It is not the first time he has done this. In December, he did the same for our male and female football teams by paying backlogs of salaries. He has done the same for our contingent going to the Olympics and Paralympics.”
Senator Enoh also highlighted the importance of the foreign training tours for different sports, aimed at ensuring the physical, technical, and tactical readiness of the athletes for the Games.
“Given the effort of both the Government and the Ministry, as well as well-meaning agencies, it is important that the athletes involved in this national call of duty regard themselves as performing an ambassadorial function, as ambassadors of Nigeria. We expect discipline, honesty, commitment, and responsibility to perform creditably well for podium placements.”
“Our expectations are high, and given my interactions with our athletes, I have no doubt that these expectations will be met,” he added.
The event was attended by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Sports Development, Atinuke Watti, President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Habu Gumel, President of the Paralympic Committee of Nigeria, Sunday Odebode, Charge d’Affaire of the France Embassy in Nigeria, sports federations presidents, among others.
Former Super Falcons coach Samson Unuanel has warned that football stakeholders must address the influx of Nigeria’s players and coaches to lesser leagues in Africa.
Unuanel, who has just joined Ayema D’adjarra of Benin Republic said the influx of the players will mostly affect Nigeria, noting that it is a bad omen for Nigeria football ecosystem that players are freely leaving for lesser leagues without it being curtailed.
“This thing will kill Nigeria football, the movement of players and coaches to lesser known leagues in Africa,” he said.
He stated that over 30 players have signified interest to switch to Benin Republic immediately he penned contract with his new club Ayema D’adjarra.
“More than 30 players as I’m talking with you both from NPFL and NNL want to move with me to Benin Republic but I have to use my brain to cut it down
He noted that, a lot of players playing in Benin Republic have moved to other part of the continent due to the enabling environment provided for them by the league body.
He further cited that, a free passport is always available for any players who played excellently well which has made the Beninese league much more organized.
Nigeria’s march to becoming a leading technology hub in Africa is beset with many obstacles, ranging from low mobile internet penetration and broadband access to fluctuations in power supply and other challenges. But, a coalition of interventions by the government and players in the tech space is on course to improve its ranking from 114th out of 140 countries in the global competitiveness index for infrastructure to enable it to harness the over $2.17 billion revenue that could be generated in the information technology services market by the end of 2024, writes KELVIN OSA OKUNBOR
Boundless opportunities for revenue generation and job creation abound in the technology space encompassing informational technology and other value chains.
Besides being a huge money spinner, the value chain holds the ace to turning the fortunes of the economy around creating commercial activities for millions of Nigerians that play in that space.
Significantly, the ICT sector includes telecommunications and information services, publishing, motion pictures, sound recording, music production, and broadcasting, driven by growth in fintech, e-commerce and digital services.
The sector has attracted significant foreign investment and could generate several billions of dollars annually with continued support and innovation.
In 2022 alone, tech startups raised an estimated $1.3 billion in funding.
But, the potential of the industry has been hampered by a colony of challenges, part of which is tech infrastructure.
A Senior Product Lead at Kenvue Incorporated, a United States-based company, Mr Joseph Kalu said the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration should scale up efforts to position the tech industry in Nigeria in a vantage position to tap the potential the sector offers in turning around the economy and contribute significantly to the gross domestic product.
While lauding the efforts of the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Mr Bosun Tijani in launching the three Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme and tech training schools to boost the development of the tech sector, Kalu said such a programme aimed at onboarding more young Nigerians into the tech space is worthy of commendation.
But, he said much more could be achieved if efforts are accelerated to fix the sore points in the technology industry.
He said: “Though it is too early to give a comprehensive rating for the Tinubu administration’s performance in the Digital Economy. However, any administration’s success will depend on its ability to address infrastructure challenges, support tech education, and create policies that foster innovation and investment in the tech sector.”
The tech expert said Nigeria could tap into the opportunities available in the sector if the right steps are taken to drive its growth and contributions to the national economy.
He said: “As a Nigerian in Tech who has visited other countries and seen first-hand how space is being enabled by their government, the Nigerian government should invest in digital infrastructure, like broadband internet and reliable power. With stable and subsidized electricity and the internet, young people will have the tools to compete globally with their peers from other countries.
“The government should also implement policies that support local startups. Improving STEM education and offering incentives for tech training programs will help build a skilled workforce. Creating innovation hubs and funding research can also drive tech growth.
“Regulatory agencies need to address the gaps in data privacy and cyber security to protect consumers and businesses. E-commerce is a sector that has a really good potential for growth and clear policies will foster growth. Bottlenecks in areas such as transportation and postal service should be removed so that more companies can build innovative products and small businesses can tap the resources in e-commerce.
“For e-learning, stronger accreditation and quality assurance are needed. The Ministry of Education can partner with e-learning platforms to create learning content tailored to the Nigerian populace. Indigenous education content is an untapped market in Africa.
“The tech space has great revenue potential for Nigeria. Though the sector is currently experiencing a decline for the fourth consecutive quarter, from the 10.32 per cent growth rate recorded in Q1 2023 to a 5.43 per cent year on year in Q1 2024 reaching a five-year low,
“The ICT sector could contribute a significant GDP by 2025. The ICT sector contributed 17.89 per cent to Nigeria’s total GDP in Q1 2024 despite its decline. The ICT sector includes telecommunications and information services, publishing, motion pictures, sound recording, music production, and broadcasting, driven by growth in fintech, e-commerce, and digital services. The sector has attracted significant foreign investment and could generate several billion dollars annually with continued support and innovation.
•Kalu
“In 2022 alone, an estimated $1.3 billion was raised in funding by tech startups. Revenue in the IT services market is projected to reach $2.17 billion by the end of 2024.
“Nigeria’s tech infrastructure over the past 10 years has greatly improved and is improving but still lags behind developed countries. While mobile internet penetration is high, broadband access and reliable power are challenges. Nigeria ranks 114th out of 140 countries in the Global Competitiveness Index for infrastructure. South Africa and Kenya have made more progress, providing benchmarks for Nigeria. The government should focus on providing affordable and constant electricity and internet access for us to be able to compete effectively with other countries in terms of technology.
“Nigeria is set to become a leading tech hub in Africa. With a large, young population and increasing internet use, the country will see growth in fintech, e-commerce and digital services.
“The government initiatives and private investments will drive innovation and entrepreneurship, positioning Nigeria as a major player in the global tech scene.
“Nigeria is a frontier market for tech service providers due to its growing economy, large young population, and increasing digital adoption. The country offers many opportunities in finance, e-commerce, mobile services, and digital content. International tech companies see Nigeria as a key entry point into the African market and her talent as world-class in project delivery.
“As stated earlier, Nigeria’s market value in the tech service space is in billions. E-commerce is exploding with companies such as Jumia, Konga and Showdeck to mention but a few are championing penetration. Local startups are increasingly ready to seize this opportunity, with many receiving international recognition and funding. However, challenges such as infrastructure and regulation need to be addressed to fully realise this potential. There should be regulations that level the playing field for new entrants to thrive in tech in Nigeria.
“To attract more Nigerian youths into the tech service space, the government and private sector should invest in STEM education and tech training programs. Universities should offer tech courses and employ highly trained staff to equip students with the relevant skills required to get a tech job.
“Offering scholarships, internships, and mentorships can also help in getting people into space. Coding boot camps and tech hubs can foster innovation and entrepreneurship. Showcasing success stories and creating a supportive ecosystem will inspire more youths to pursue tech careers.”
He said experts in the tech space are increasing, using their expertise to drive leading design teams to create digital products for global brands.
Kalu said: “When I decided to get into tech, what I first considered was an area of tech that is timeless and has a gap in the market. In the fast-evolving tech space, the first thing to do is research market trends and identify gaps where skills are needed. It is important to identify the skill of the future, one that is well-paying, borderless and can get you hired across different countries. To identify this, speak to a career coach in any tech training institute.
“Next is to build a strong foundation in key tech areas such as software development, data analysis, product management and cyber security. I will recommend learning such skills in a structured learning environment such as the Federal Government’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme and tech training schools. Finally, get mentorship from people who are trailblazers in your chosen field.
“To be good in tech, it is important to identify one’s area of strength before venturing into learning. A person who is very creative, curious and detail-oriented may be good in design compared to someone who isn’t. In the same way, a person who is good with words and writing may excel in UX writing, copywriting and content writing as compared to another who isn’t.
“To be a leading service provider in software engineering, one needs skills in programming languages (such as Python and JavaScript), cloud computing (AWS, Google Cloud), cyber security and so on. Soft skills such as problem-solving, project management, and communication are also important skills to possess because as a person in tech, you’ll collaborate a lot with stakeholders and having soft skills is essential.”
Kalu spoke of evolving dynamics in the tech space, where remote working is gaining global traction.
He said: “One thing COVID-19 pandemic did was to teach us that we now live in a global village. Companies were forced to go remote and hiring remote wor kers worldwide skyrocketed. With this came some crazy advancement in technology that has hugely shrunk time and distance.
Technology drives globalisation by enabling instant communication and collaboration.
“People have now realised that they do not have to travel or move from one location to another to perform tasks or have meetings. Tools such as Zoom, Jira and Slack have allowed people to work together, communicate and collaborate from anywhere in the world. Cloud services allow businesses to operate globally without a physical presence. According to the World Economic Forum, digital globalisation has increased cross-border data flows by over 45 times since 2005, showing the impact of technology on reducing time and space.
“Technology is making outsourcing more efficient. Companies from the US, UK and other parts of the world now outsource work to skilled talents in Nigeria thereby increasing these talents fx earning potential which in turn grows the economy. With technology, it is now easier to work for a company overseas and receive payment in USD than it was 10 years ago.
“Communication tools and project management software lead the frontline in enabling companies to outsource tasks globally. Countries like the Philippines have become a top outsourcing destination, with its BPO sector contributing $26 billion to the economy in 2020.
“With tools such as Zoom, Teams, Google Meets and others, video conferencing is now easier than ever. Jira, Zoho and Trello have made project management and collaboration issues a thing of the past.
“Project managers can hire teams across the world, have them do tasks and monitor their tasks efficiently without breaking a sweat. When it comes to internet connection, Star link has made it possible for someone in the most remote part of the world to work efficiently. Of course, with solar inverters, power isn’t an issue.
“With these tools, remote work is now the new normal, enabling people to work effectively and efficiently from any part of the globe.
Technology has enabled remote work by providing tools for video conferencing, collaboration, and cloud-based applications. These tools help maintain productivity despite movement restrictions.”
Nigerians remain hopeful for more medals at the Olympic Games from the wrestling contingent. TUNDE LIADI writes on the chances of the team as they leave on a training tour of Spain and Germany enroute to Paris 2024…
Wrestling fetched Nigeria a podium finish at the last Olympic Games in Tokyo when Blessing Oborodudu won the silver medal in the women’s freestyle 68 kg after losing to America’s Tamyra Mensah-Stock 4–1 at the delayed 2020 Summer Olympics in Japan.
Apart from being the first Nigerian to win an Olympic medal in wrestling, she was also Nigeria’s first silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics following her feat of 3rd August 2021.
Incidentally, Nigeria’s main medal prospect at the Tokyo Olympic Games, wrestler Odunayo Adekuoroye, surprisingly lost to Anastasia Nichita of Moldova despite leading 8-2 on the scorecard before her opponent achieved the win via VFA (Victory by fall).
Also, the only male wrestler in Team Nigeria to Tokyo 2020, Ekereke Agiomor, lost 12-1 to Indian Deepak Punia in the Men’s Freestyle 86kg category.
This term, under the pragmatic President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF) Daniel Igali, the NWF will present six wrestlers at Paris 2024 which doubles the number of the contingent that went to Tokyo 2020.
During the week, the NWF unveiled the six athletes who will fly the nation’s flag at Paris 20024 at a colourful ceremony at the Dynamite Wrestling gym in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
The team of five women’s wrestlers, one male freestyle wrestler and three coaches which was presented early include Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Blessing Oborodudu (68kg), reigning African champion Odunayo Adekuoroye (57kg), and Military Games’ world champion, Hannah Reuben (76kg).
Also, reigning African champions and debutants, Esther Kolawole (62kg) and Ogunsanya Christianah (53kg), while Ashton Mutuwa completes the list in the (125kg) men’s freestyle wrestling. The coaches are Victor Kodei, Purity Akuh, and Happiness Burutu.
Igali, a wrestling Olympic gold medallist for Canada in his heyday, remains upbeat about the chances of his wards at Paris 2024, adding that the team’s participation at the Pre-Olympic Tournament in Madrid should toughen the wrestlers on what to expect at the Olympics.
He said he was satisfied with the preparations of the wrestlers and the fact that they would still have about three weeks to perfect their acts in Germany.
“We didn’t choose Spain for the camping exercise but the team is going there to take part in the Pre-Olympic Tournament before they will spend three weeks in Saarbrücken, Germany for the final build up to the Olympic Games,” he said. “Nigeria Wrestling Federation is a very serious Federation. The athletes are prepared adequately in my view. They will be in that competition to compete for medals.
“We have three medals to be won for 16 Wrestlers in all weight class. Everyone in the top 16 has equal chances of winning.
“We just pray that all the wrestlers put in good performance at the Olympic Games and make Nigerians proud.”
Also speaking, Freestyle Wrestler in the 62kg, Esther Kolawole exuded confidence that her debut appearance at the Olympics would be memorable and would hopefully be garnished with a medal.
“By special grace of God I hope to give my best at the Olympic Games in my debut appearance. I want to compete and finish with a medal hopefully,” Kolawole stated.
Oborodudu who won Nigeria’s silver medal in the Freestyle 68kg in Tokyo 2020 Olympics, expressed her resolve to go a step higher .
“I have trained. I have been in camp for more than one month training very hard. At this point, I am ready to face anybody,” Oborodudu stated matter-of-factly. “I got a silver medal that worth more than a gold for me. I am going for a gold medal in Paris and I will crush every hindrance to that.”
For Hannah Reuben who will compete in the Freestyle 76kg, opined that she is going to the Olympics to compete and to help Nigeria increase her medal haul.
“I am going there to compete. They should keep praying for me and for the team for better performance.”
An excited Christianah Ogunsanya who competes in the Freestyle 53kg wants Nigerians to be on the lookout for her at the Olympics.
“I am so much excited to be at the Olympic Games in Paris and Nigerians should be looking forward for me to perform well and bring a medal back to Nigeria,” Ogunsanya said.
One of the Wrestling coaches, Victor Kodei is delighted with the acceptance of wrestling in the country and he stressed that they left for the Pre-Olympic Tournament in Madrid, Spain and the closed camping in Germany with wrestlers who are eager to compete for medals.
“Wrestling is part of us now and we will leave no stone unturned. We believe the players have trained very hard. We are going to Paris to compete for medals and not just to participate,” Kodei noted.
•Ngelale engages UK, German Embassy in green industrial development push
Nigeria has agreed with the World Economic Forum (WEF) on actionable steps to enhance collaboration with international investors and Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) in line with the country’s green industrial development roadmap.
According to the Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action (SPEC), Ajuri Ngelale, the agreement was reached during a virtual discussion with the Managing Director of the WEF Center for Nature and Climate, Ms. Gim Huay.
The meeting was one of the series of meetings Ngelale held on Wednesday with international partners to align Nigeria’s green industrial development plans with global expertise and investment.
This move is expected to attract significant investment in Nigeria’s green industrial development sector, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s vision for a private sector-led, public sector-enabled economy.
The partnership with WEF is seen as a strategic step towards unlocking global expertise and funding to drive Nigeria’s climate action plans and sustainable economic growth.
Earlier in the day, the SPEC hosted the UK-Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility (UKNAIF) leadership to harmonise their partnership with President Tinubu’s private sector-led, public sector-enabled green industrial development agenda.
In the evening, the SPEC received a delegation from the German Embassy, led by Ambassador Johannes Lehne, Head of Climate Negotiations, and agreed on specific steps to deepen collaboration on hydrogen and wind energy development, with a follow-up meeting scheduled for next week.
Ngelale said: “On Wednesday morning, we hosted the leadership of the United Kingdom-Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility (UKNAIF) for a briefing to align the partnership with President Tinubu’s plans for private sector-led, public sector-enabled green industrial development.
“Later, we hosted a virtual discussion with the Managing Director of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Center for Nature and Climate, Ms. Gim Huay, where we agreed to actionable next steps that will ensure greater collaboration with international investors and DFIs in accordance with our green industrial roadmap.
“On Wednesday evening, we hosted a fruitful session with a delegation from the German Embassy, led by its Head of Climate Negotiations, Ambassador Johannes Lehne. Specific steps toward deepening collaboration on hydrogen and wind energy development were agreed upon with a follow-up next week.”
