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Tag: Solomon Dalong

Nigeria’s unity non-negotiable, says Osinbajo

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Saturday in Yola, reinstated the commitment of the Federation Government to keep one, indivisible Nigeria.

Osinbajo made the commitment while speaking at the reception in Yola in honour of the new President of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), the Most Reverend Musa Filibus.

The vice-president, therefore, urged Nigerians to sustain the unity which he said was the dream of the fore fathers of the country.

According to him, Christians are encouraged to pursue justice and reconciliation with people of other faith.

While congratulating Filibus for being the first Nigerian and second African to emerge President of LWF, Osinbajo urged him to work toward uniting the church and promoting peace and love.

“It is our role as Christians to bind people together and we must do so by self sacrifice and love.

“On behalf of the Federal Government and Mr President, I wish you an excellence and God guided tenure as President of LWF.”

Earlier, Gov. Mohammed Bindow of Adamawa, who also congratulated Filibus for his elevation and making the people of Adamawa and Nigeria proud, assured him of his administration’ support to succeed.

In his remarks, Filibus thanked the government of Adamawa and Nigeria for standing behind him and urged more support and prayers for a successful tenure.

Filibus vowed to make Nigeria proud by being a good ambassador.

“I will stand to be one among many to prove that Nigeria stands tall among the comity of nations.

“I give thanks to all who contributed in making me what I am today,” Filibus promised.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that LWF is a global communion of 145 churches in the Lutheran tradition, representing over 75 million Christians in 98 countries.

Other dignitaries that graced the occasion were, the Governor of Plateau, Mr Solomon Dalong, Mr David Babacir and representatives of the Speaker, House of Representatives, Governor of Taraba and his Benue counterpart.

September 16, 2017
Sports federations in dark over Rio 2016

The majority of the sports federations whose athletes have already qualified for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games are still in the dark over participation in the biggest sporting event in the world.

A few weeks ago, officials of the Ministry of Sports began compilation of list of athletes and officials expected to make the trip to Brazil, but with what is happening at present, nothing seems to be on ground for teams to prepare for the games.

Less than 50 days before the commencement of the Olympics in Rio and despite the approval of the 2016 Budget, the Sports Ministry has continued to keep mute on the country’s preparation while the Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalong who is expected to be on top of the planning seems to be silent in recent times.

An official of one of the sports federations who spoke on condition of anonymity, told NationSport that it was clear that the Sports Ministry is not ready for the Olympic Games as most of their requests for the games are yet to be approved.

“We have written to the sports ministry on our plans for the Olympics, but I can tell you that up till now, we have not received any response from them. But we are going ahead with our training because it is obvious that this will be the worst preparation, we have ever had for the Olympic Games. The minister seems to be silent lately as he has been avoiding talking about the Olympic Games,” he lamented.

Federations like wrestling are at present in Abuja with 18 athletes shaping up for the Olympics with seven of them led by golden girl – Odunayo Adekuoroye expected to lead six others in Brazil in August.

For table tennis, nothing seems to be on the ground despite the efforts by the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) to keep the players in shape with regular tournaments. Some of the players are using their personal fund to attend competitions across the globe in order to prepare well for the games.

June 13, 2016
Photos: Buhari celebrates Eagles

President Muhammadu Buhari middle shaking hand with WBC Cruiser Weight Title Winner, Olarenwaju Durodola with them is Minister of Sport, Solomon Dalong with during the Presidential Reception for outstanding Athletes and Officials at the Banquet Hall Presidential Villa in Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari receiving FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile 2017 Trophy from the Captain Nwakali Kelechi during the Presidential Reception for outstanding Athletes and Officials at the Banquet Hall Presidential Villa in Abuja. PHOTO AKIN OLADOKUN

President Muhammadu Buhari and Minister of Sport, Solomon Dalong with Member of World English Language Scrabble Championship Gold Medal during the Presidential Reception for outstanding Athletes and Officials at the Banquet Hall Presidential Villa in Abuja.

President Muhammadu Buhari and Minister of Sport, Solomon Dalong with 2015 Paralympics IPC Asian Open International Power-lifting Championship during the Presidential Reception for outstanding Athletes and Officials at the Banquet Hall Presidential Villa in Abuja.

President Muhammadu Buhari and Minister of Sport, Solomon Dalong with FIFA U-16 Women Championship 2015 during the Presidential Reception for outstanding Athletes and Officials at the Banquet Hall Presidential Villa in Abuja.

President Muhammadu Buhari and Minister of Sport, Solomon Dalong with 2015 Men Basketball Tournament during the Presidential Reception for outstanding Athletes and Officials at the Banquet Hall Presidential Villa in Abuja.

President Muhammadu Buhari and Minister of Sport, Solomon Dalong with FIFA U-17 World Cup, Chile 2015 and Officials during the Presidential Reception for outstanding Athletes and Officials at the Banquet Hall Presidential Villa in Abuja.

President Muhammadu Buhari and Minister of Sport, Solomon Dalong with FIFA U-16 Championship 1985 Gold winners and Officials during the Presidential Reception for outstanding Athletes and Officials at the Banquet Hall Presidential Villa in Abuja.

L-R Member of IPC Athletics Grand Prix DOHA, Qatar F40 Shot-put, Secretary, Olabisi Aziz Minister of Sport, Solomon Dalong, President Muhammadu Buhari , Athlete, Onye Laurrita, and the Coach, Analto Patrick during the Presidential Reception for outstanding Athletes and Officials at the Banquet Hall Presidential Villa in Abuja. PHOTO AKIN OLADOKUN.

January 21, 2016
Minister de-registers all Youth Council Organisations

The Minister of Youth and Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung has announced the Ministry’s withdrawal of recognition for existing Youth Council Organisations and ordered that a new registration that will strictly be in line with the National Youth Policy be put in place.

He also affirmed that that the age bracket of 18-35 years will be strictly enforced for all eligible members.

The Minister gave the directive while addressing a delegation consisting of Board of Trustees of the National Youth Council of Nigeria NYCN, some past Presidents and Representatives of the members of Management Committee of the Council who visited him in Abuja.

The Minister explained that the directive has become imperative in order to restore sanity into the National Youth Council of Nigeria which has been fragmented for some time now; a development that has resulted in six people laying claims to the leadership of the Council.

The Minister had earlier expressed his disdain at the way and manner the ideals and virtues which used to endear the organisation to the public have been eroded; giving way to blatant pursuit of personal interest and unabashed materialism by the present day self-acclaimed leaders of council at the expense of Nigeria Youth.

Dalung assured that the Board of Trustee which he describe as the custodian of the Council will play a big role in the new reform meant to restore the Council back to its former glory.

The Minister also advocated the return to the Ministry of all interventionist programmes targeted at the development of youth whether in the area of Agriculture, Health, Micro-Finance, Job Empowerment etc. for effective coordination and mainstreaming; arguing that the present practice where such programmes are scattered in different Ministries has not yielded the desired result and that warehousing such interventionist programmes in the appropriate Ministry is key to realising the objectives.

Earlier on, the leader of the Delegation and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of NYCN Chief Macaulay Oma Azugbene lamented the situation whereby “the Council has had to contend with leadership crisis which has resulted in its inability to effectively play its role and ensure that the Youths benefit from the dividend of democracy.”

He also lamented the infiltration of the Council by selfish, shameless and materialistic characters “who are ready to throw virtues to the dogs once there is monetary benefit to derive.”

He also lamented that “we have had some persons declaring themselves presidents of their imagined councils without submitting themselves to due process of election at a duly organised National Youth Congress.”

He said part of the problem in the Council is traceable to the advent of “brief case voluntary youth organisations which parades Certificate of Registration from the Corporate Affairs Commission without members”

Chief Azugbene later appealed to the Federal government for resuscitation of the statutory subventions to Voluntary Youth Organisations – VYOs to enable them resume proper tanning of youth through capacity building and leadership orientation.

The Chairman of Broad of Trustee also call on government to appreciate past Youth Leaders through national Honours, government appointments and patronage of their businesses.

December 16, 2015
Glitz and Glamour At 2015 Nigerian Sports Award
- as Sports Minister Commends Organizers
Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalong has described the Nigerian Sports Award as the best way to reward sportsmen and women who have distinguished themselves in this country and make Nigeria proud.

Dalong made the statement at his first official outing since his appointment as minister during the award ceremony held on Friday at the Marquee, Oceanview, Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Dalong who admitted that the reward system in this society of ours has been consigned to materialism, commended the vision of the organizers for their initiative to recognize talents, contributions, skills and performances of the distinguished sportsmen and women through the award.

The Jos-born administrator added that the establishment of the Nigerian Sports Award has developed a society where the reward system is functional.

“I am very elated from what I have seen here and we would improve on it. My passion as a person is that we should be able to develop a society where the reward system is functional. I believe a society without an effective reward system is a society destined to doom,” Dalong said.

“Of course, in this society of ours the reward system was consigned to materialism. You are not recognizing because of your consistent, you are not recognized because of your talent, you’re not recognize because of your skills but you’re recognize by the size of your pocket. Indeed, that has contributed immensely in destroying the progress of the country. And here stands the viability of the vision of organizers of this award, which we are all gathered here to recognize excellence.

“We are here to recognize the talents, the contribution, the skills and performances of our sportsmen and women who have distinguished themselves in this country and make Nigeria proud. This was made possible with the organizers of this award, which is commendable. Sports we all know is one of the basic instruments that can unify not only the country but also the whole world,” he stated.

At the end of the award distinguished sportsmen and women was recognized with awards.

The FIBA 2015 MVP Chamberlain Oguchi emerged Ball Sportsperson of the Year, for helping National Basketball team, D’ Tigers won the just concluded FIBA Africa tournament. He defeated Aruna Quadri and Olumide Oyedeji.

Are Feyisetan, Nigerian Powerlifting Coach, beat off a stiff competition from the National Men’s Basketball team, William Voight and the Women Cycling Coach, Bashir Mohammed to be crowned the Coach of the Year category.

Kelechi Nwanaga (Javeline) was handed the Discovery of the Year award at the expense of Awoniyi Taiwo (Footballer) and Amusan Tobiloba.

In the football category, Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa was named the Footballer of the Year (Men) ahead of Odion Ighalo, and the Sunshine Stars striker, Tunji Adeniji while Ngozi Okobi dethrone Asisat Oshoala to emerge the Footballer of the Year (Women) category.

World record breakers at the just concluded All African Games, Yakubu Adesokan went home with double awards of the Special Sport Person of the Year and the Sports Man of the Year.Loveline Obiji humbles Balqis Otunla and Lovina Onyegbule to emerge the Sports Woman of the year.

The Director General (DG) of the National Sports Commission, Yakmut Al-Hassan was named the Sports Administrators of the Year category ahead of the President of the Nigerian Wrestling Federation, Daniel Igali.

For the School Sports Award, Eyeanugie Primary School, Edo state emerged the winner while Nigerian Men Basketball Award team, D’Tigers, was named the Team of the Year category.

Tosin Oke (Triple Jump), a gold medalist at the just concluded All African Games overpower Kelechi Nwanaga (Javeline) and Uke Claire (Discuss), for the Track and Field Star of the year while Balqis Otunla conquered Mariam Usman for the weightlifter of the Year award.

For the Sport Journalist of the Year (Print) category, Tana Aiyejina of The Punch Newspaper retained the award after he triumph over Oludare Shina of Goal.com, Johnny Edwards Complete Sports and Kayode Ogundare i-Soccer while Ganiyu Yusuf of the Complete Sport was named the Photo Journalist of the year ahead of Bola Omilabu of the Nation/ SportingLife Newspaper, John Ebota of The Nation, Segun Ogunfeyintimi and Akeem Salawu of The Vanguard Newspaper for.

The Radio Sport Journalist of the Year went to Chinasa Ibonye, City FM after a competition from last year winner Godwin Enakhena, Top Radio, Murphy Djemba of Brila FM, and Udeme George, Love FM, Abuja while Austin Okon -Akpan of Channels TV emerged Sport Journalist of the Year (Television) after surmounting pressure from Miyen Akiri of Galaxy TV, and Moses Praiz of Supersports.

The Special recognition award category goes to the President of the Nigerian Boxing Federation, Major General Kenneth Minimah and the 2015 World Scrabble Champion, Wellington Jighere.
November 22, 2015