Tag: Olopade

The Director-General (DG), National Sports Commission ( NSC),  Bukola Olopade, said  a total of 9,040 athletes and officials have been accredited for the ongoing National Sports Festival (NSF) in Ogun State.

Olopade made the disclosure in Abeokuta while addressing  newsmen on the commission’s efforts to ensure a successful festival.

The DG said that the accredited athletes and officials were accommodated at Babcock University.

He described the participation of the states in the games as impressive.

Olopade said that the quality of games had improved compared to  previous editions.

“In the last 20 years, this is the festival that athletes will get to their hostel and get their food.

“With joy and pride, things are going on well with the hostel and feeding.

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“I just returned from Sagamu and Babcock; the standard of play is very high. Kaduna vs. Niger basketball was top-notch.

“Visit the centres to enjoy this festival; Niger vs. Kano in handball was superb too.

“I saw three London-based boxers representing Kaduna, and this has demonstrated impressive improvement from other editions,” he said.

Olopade  also commended the Ogun Government for its efforts towards hosting the best biennial sports  festival.

According to him, the opening ceremony was applauded globally.

The National Sports Commission (NSC),  has expressed satisfaction with the level of preparedness of  Ogun state ahead of the 22^nd  National Sports festival, tagged Gateway Games 2024, holding between May 16 and 30.

The Director General of the NSC, Hon. Bukola Olopade who doubles as the Chairman of the Main Organising Committee (MOC) made  the remarks when he led a joint team of members of both the Local and Main Organising Committees on the inspection of the facilities earmarked for the Games.

” This inspection is not only important because of the aesthetics but because technically we have been battling with what we want to do with Athletics and the throws in particular. But we have now agreed with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), that the throws will take place at the MKO stadium because of the kind of Astroturf that has been put there, and that for me it’s the most gratifying thing about this inspection”.

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” We really need to thank the State Governor Dapo Abiodun, CON, for the kind of work that is ongoing with all the facilities. Now the entire gamut of athletics will now be done at the MKO stadium. And Inside the Stadium, the Governor has taken the issue of security to a whole new level with every Public Address System having a camera. The 360 environment of the stadium is covered with World Class cameras that can give real time pictures of activities, “he said.

Olopade  also led his team to inspect all other facilities including the Abeokuta Golf course where he assured of the commission’s commitment to assist with providing some of the needed equipment which he said will serve as legacies.

” I hope as we support you in all of these, the effect of what we are doing will also be felt by the indigent children who live around this golf course”.

All the facilities billed for the Games are currently wearing a new look with many of them almost ready for the start of what is expected to be one of the best organised Games in the history of the National Sports Festival.

The Inspection of facilities was concluded with a joint technical meeting of all Federation Secretaries , states director of Sports, members of both Local and main Organising Committees, as the National Sports Commission and the Ogun State Government put finishing touches to their bid of staging a World class Games.

The inspection of the facilities also coincided with the official unveiling of the Festival Logo, Theme song and Mascot with the Ogun State Government reassuring every one of its desire to host a premium event.

The Director-General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, made an unscheduled stop at the office of the Main Organising Committee (MOC) of the Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF) on the eve of the official opening ceremony of the festival.

Dressed in an impressive traditional wears, Olopade was met on arrival by Itiako Ikpokpo, Co-Chairman of the MOC and lead Consultant at Dunamis Icon, organisers of the festival.

“I am very proud of what you guys have achieved here and it is a pointer of the new dawn in the nation’s sports.

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“At the National Sports Festival, we will look to collaborate with you on some of the innovations that has been noted in your management of the Niger Delta Sports Festival,” declared Olopade, who served as Commissioner for Sports when Ogun State hosted the National Sports Festival.

Ikpokpo thanked the Director-General for the visit and recalled how the NSC Chairman, Shehu Dikko and the DG has been very supportive of the project.

“Your visit on the eve of the official opening ceremony is a huge shot in the arm and we are indeed encouraged.

“On behalf of the team, I wish to extend through you our appreciation of the President’s acceptance to flag off the Festival. We look forward to receiving Mallam Dikko who will be representing the President,” Ikpokpo told the NSC chief.

The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, has praised renowned entrepreneur and sports investor, Hon. Kunle Soname, for his immense contributions to sports development in Nigeria.

Olopade said as much yesterday  after receiving Soname at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, where both technocrats engaged in discussions on the future of Nigerian sports.

Speaking on Soname’s impact, Olopade stated: “Kunle Soname is a blessing to Nigerian sports. His contributions to sports development are laudable—he has taken youth off the streets, given them a future, and built careers for many. He deserves the applause of the NSC. We had some discussions behind closed doors, but they were all centred on advancing sports in Nigeria.”

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Soname’s influence extends beyond football, as he has supported various other sports in Nigeria. Olopade emphasized the need for increased private sector involvement in sports financing, saying, “If more individuals like Soname rise, Nigeria’s sports industry will be in a much better place.

Sports financing must not be left to the government alone—the private sector must play an active role in driving its growth.”

The meeting reinforced the NSC’s commitment to fostering public-private partnerships that will enhance sports development across the country.

The Director General of the National Sports Commission, Honourable Bukola Olopade, has advocated for unity amongst the various groups of Supporters Club in Nigeria, in other to amplify their continuous support for the various National Sports Teams.

Olopade made this appeal during a courtesy visit by the leadership of the Authentic Nigeria Football and Allied Sports Supporters Club, led by its President, Abayomi Ogunjimi.

Commending Ogunjimi’s dedication and passion for supporting Nigeria’s national teams, Olopade highlighted the impressive contributions of the Authentic Nigeria Supporters Club since its inception. 

“I am honoured for this show of love and support that is coming from the Authentic Supporters Club, especially the President, Abayomi Ogunjimi. The National Sports Commission, under the Chairmanship of Mallam Shehu Dikko and myself as the DG, will always be there to support the activities of the Supporters Club,” Olopade said. 

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He emphasized the need for all factions of the Nigeria Supporters Club to come together under a single banner for greater impact. 

“This is the more reason why I am charging all the various groups of the Supporters to come together in one voice so that you all can be on the same page, singing one song at the stadium. And I would also love to see that the Supporters Club is not only for football but all the various sports because other sports apart from football need to enjoy that sense of support,” he added. 

In his remarks, Ogunjimi underscored the importance of stakeholder support for the NSC’s mission to transform Nigerian sports. He praised the leadership of the NSC for its vision and commitment to revamping the sector. 

“Nigerian sports can never remain the same again with the appointment of Mallam Shehu Dikko and Honourable Bukola Olopade as Chairman and Director General of the National Sports Commission. I have no doubt the two of them are the best hands to revamp Nigerian sports,” Ogunjimi stated. 

During the visit, Ogunjimi presented the DG with a jersey and a framed photograph of the club as a token of appreciation. 

Olopade averred that the call for unity and collaboration signals a new era of synergy-focused actions, aimed at elevating the nation’s sports sector across all boards.