The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Solomon Dalung

  • Dalung lauds Super Eagles for Cameroon’s 4-0 defeat

    Dalung lauds Super Eagles for Cameroon’s 4-0 defeat

    The Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, has applauded the Super Eagles for their Friday’s massive 4-0 triumph over visiting Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in a 2018 World Cup qualifier in Uyo.

    The team will receive N20 million for the four goals scored following the Federal Government’s promise to reward every strike with N5 million during a pep talk before the game.

    Dalung thanked the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the team for not letting Nigerians down knowing the importance of qualifying for the World Cup in Russia next year.

    “The NFF has been on its toes to ensure that the Super Eagles qualify for the next World Cup.

    “You worked very hard for this victory and Nigerians are proud of you for always raising the flag when it matters most.

    “We know the consequences of not being at the World Cup in Russia in 2018,’’ the minister said in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Nneka Ikem-Anibeze.

    “We determine the pulse of African sports and set the tune and agenda for Africa in global sports, so, it is very key and critical to us.

    “Moreover, the absence of Nigeria at any international competition always denies the world of the pattern, style and tradition of the Nigerian variety of football.

    “So, we will be going to Russia with another different pattern and style of football.’’

    The minister called on football stakeholders and Nigerians to continue to support the players with their prayers and objective criticisms.

    “The Federal Government will continue to support our players because they have been making so many sacrifices for the country.

    “There is nothing we can do to compensate them for what they have done except to continue to appreciate and celebrate them in this critical journey to Russia,’’ the statement said.

    Nigeria now top Group B with 9 points and will face Cameroon again on Monday at the Stade Omnispirts Ahmadu Ahidjo in Yaoundé at 6 p.m.

  • No crisis in Basketball federation, says President

    No crisis in Basketball federation, says President

    The President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Musa Kida, said on Thursday that there was no crisis in the federation.

    Speaking with newsmen in Abuja, Kida said the crisis was merely a perception of the public.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that on June 12, the National Sports Federations Elections for NBBF had two elections one in Kano and another in Abuja.

    The Kano election had Tijani Umar emerge as the president while Kida emerged as president in the Abuja election.

    The Minster of Sports, Solomon Dalung, however, annulled the Kano election on the grounds that it had no backing of the ministry or the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC).

    FIBA Africa in their letter to the NOC said specifically that it did not recognise any of the two groups, but would send correspondence to only the Musa Kida group.

    The body also gave the NOC and NBBF November as deadline to resolve their differences.

    The NBBF president said, however, that there had been no complaint against any individual in the basketball circle.

    “The perception that there is a crisis is in the minds of a few stakeholders. I don’t see what is happening as crisis,’’ he said.

    On the issue of the letter from FIBA Africa, Kida said that the letter recognised him as the president since they (FIBA) agreed to correspond with him.

    “If you look at the letter, it concluded everything by agreeing to send correspondence through my board and this I think is a proof of acceptance,’’ he said.

    No crisis in Basketball federation, says President

    The President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Musa Kida, said on Thursday that there was no crisis in the federation.

    Speaking with newsmen in Abuja, Kida said the crisis was merely a perception of the public.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that on June 12, the National Sports Federations Elections for NBBF had two elections one in Kano and another in Abuja.

    The Kano election had Tijani Umar emerge as the president while Kida emerged as president in the Abuja election.

    The Minster of Sports, Solomon Dalung, however, annulled the Kano election on the grounds that it had no backing of the ministry or the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC).

    FIBA Africa in their letter to the NOC said specifically that it did not recognise any of the two groups, but would send correspondence to only the Musa Kida group.

    The body also gave the NOC and NBBF November as deadline to resolve their differences.

    The NBBF president said, however, that there had been no complaint against any individual in the basketball circle.

    “The perception that there is a crisis is in the minds of a few stakeholders. I don’t see what is happening as crisis,’’ he said.

    On the issue of the letter from FIBA Africa, Kida said that the letter recognised him as the president since they (FIBA) agreed to correspond with him.

    “If you look at the letter, it concluded everything by agreeing to send correspondence through my board and this I think is a proof of acceptance,’’ he said.

     

  • Dalung promises to deliver 2018 World Cup ticket

    Dalung promises to deliver 2018 World Cup ticket

    Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, says the Super Eagles will deliver the 2018 World Cup ticket to Nigerians.

    Dalung told newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja that the team was well prepared for the world cup qualifier against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon coming up on Friday in Uyo.

    “We have prepared very well and the team is in high spirit, ready to do their best.

    “We want to assure Nigerians that we will definitely make good our promise of delivering the ticket for the 2018 World Cup in Russia,” said the minister.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Super Eagles will aim to achieve a 12 time triumph over the Lions of Cameroon when both teams meet at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.

    Nigeria has won 11 of the 19 previous encounters with Cameroon and secured four draws, while Cameroon had beaten the Eagles only four times.

    The two teams last clashed at the Edmond Machtens Stadium in Brussels in October 2015 when the Eagles won by 3-0 through goals by Efe Ambrose, Moses Simon, and Odion Ighalo.

  • Niger state college of education wins first JAMB football tourney

    Niger state college of education wins first JAMB football tourney

    Niger State College of Education, Minna has won the first JAMB tertiary institutions football competition, held in Ilorin.

    College of Education, Minna defeated Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto by 4-3 via penalties after a goalless draw during regulation.

    In the third place match played earlier, Delta State University (DELTSU), Abraka defeated Kwara State College of Education, Oro, 4-2 on penalties, having played a one-all draw after 90 minutes.

    In his message, the Minister of Sports, Mr Solomon Dalung called on corporate organisations to support government at all levels in sports development.

    Represented by the Kwara Director of Sports Tunde Kazeem,the minister thanked JAMB for its investment in football and urged the board to consider further support to other sporting activities.

    Also speaking, the JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, said the organisation of the tournament was part of Board’s corporate social responsibility.

    Prof. Oloyede who spoke through Dr. Yusuf Lawal, promised that JAMB would continue to partner relevant stakeholders in the development of youths, especially through sports.

  • National Sports Festival: Cross River solicits FG’s support

    National Sports Festival: Cross River solicits FG’s support

    Cross River Government on Sunday appealed to the Federal Government to assist it funds to enable it to host the National Sports Festival.

    A statement by Nneka Ikem-Anibeze, Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Youths and Sports, said the Deputy Governor of the state, Prof Ivara Esu, made the plea when he visited the Minister, Solomon Dalung, in Abuja.

    It quoted Esu as acknowledging that the hosting right for the festival was given to the state about five years ago but that for some exigencies, the games had not held.

    He said that the previous administration in the state constituted up a team of consultants to market the festival to raise funds.

    He said that much money had been sunk into the renovation and building of new infrastructure as part of preparations for the festival, adding that some of the projects had been completed.

    “We have been preparing for this National Sports Festival since 2012.

    “The government before us had set up a team of consultants to raise funds for the games. I am sure that when they hear about the festival coming alive, they will come back for re-engagement.

    “So much money has already been sunk into building of infrastructure and facilities for the games. Some of the facilities are 100 per cent completed. Others are between 65 to 85 per cent ready.

    “We have considered various ways in which we can cut cost. I also know that the kind of money we are looking for is not in the budget of 2017.

    “We are not passing the entire budget for the festival to the Federal Government. We need help of 60 per cent of the cost of the facilities, which we have presented to the ministry.

    “I know that President Muhammadu Buhari and the minister have contacts that we can leverage on to raise funds,” he said.

    Esu stated that the state government had made efforts to raise funds “but we have assessed that at no time will we be able to raise more than 40 per cent of the funds needed.

    “Certainly, we can’t get money even from our federal allocation.

    “We are number 35 out of the 36 states; so, if we can’t get the remaining funds, we will not be able to host this games”.

    In his response, Dalung promised to discuss the issue with the president and thanked the deputy governor for the visit, saying it demonstrated the state government’s commitment to “rescue” the festival, which had been in limbo.

    “The National Sports Festival has been on the front burner and the concern of many Nigerians. At every given opportunity, there is a question about the fate of the festival.

    “That confirms how passionate the people are about the games. It is sad that for a long time we have not been able to host the games.

    “I quite agree with the challenges, especially economic challenges confronting the nation but let us not lose touch of the fact that sports is our national heritage and passion and a service-oriented item.

    “Therefore, we must do our best to mobilize funds and give our people those things they yearn for,” he said.

    Dalung recalled that the National Youth Games was held in Ilorin after a long time.

    “We did that not because we had sufficient budgetary allocation. We had only N9 million allocated for the games, but we had to think outside the box and engaged the private sector and sponsors to raise enough funds for the games.

    “So, I think Cross River state needs to put up a structure of consultants to market the games and I assure you that it will pay off.

    “It is not a matter of setting up committees and getting the right people who will mobilize the right investment.

    “If you insist on using a committee made up of just people from the state’s sporting architecture, you will achieve nothing.

    “The state government may not have money but there are many Nigerians who are ready to give the state funds needed to host the festival if they are sure that the investment will be deployed judiciously.

    “I know of states who are hosting international competitions. So I know people will also want to invest in national competitions which have direct benefits on Nigerian youths,” he said.

    The Minister also promised to assist the state to seek the intervention needed to host the games.

  • NCC earmarks N23m for 2017 tennis tournament

    Prof. Umar Danbatta, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said the commission has earmarked N23 million for this year’s NCC Tennis Cup tournament.

    Danbatta made this known in Lagos, during the unveiling of the 2017 NCC Tennis Cup and the draw for the participating teams for the tournament.

    The NCC boss said that the tournament, which entered its third edition,  had attracted best home and foreign tennis players.

    Represented by the Director, Special Duties, NCC, Mrs Iyabo Sholanke, he said that 12 teams had been selected for the competition, which would be held across the country.

    According to him, N17 million is the cash prize for the four best teams, while N6 million will be disbursed to the 12 teams towards their preparations for the tournament.

    “We have maintained the same prizes of the 2016 edition for the 2017 edition.

    “Therefore, the winning team will receive N7 million, the second best will go home with N5 million, the third will receive N3 million, while the fourth will earn N2 million for their efforts.

    “The number of participating teams have also increased from 10 last year to 12 for this edition.

    “All the teams will receive N500,000 each to support their preparations for the tournament,” he said.

    The EVC said that the idea of the tennis tournament was to harness talents for the growth of the sport in Nigeria.

    He said the tournament was one of the unifying sporting activity which had generated excitement across the country.

    Danbatta said that part of the objectives of the sponsorship was to give recognition to top tennis players, through prize monies and empower them to launch professional careers abroad.

    He said that it will also attract sponsorship to teams, which could train them with professional coaches as members of a squad.

    According to him, 10 of the top players have received ranking by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) in the past two years.

    “It is worth repeating that our choice to sponsor this tournament was guided principally by our commitment to be socially responsible.

    “And to invest in the development and sharpening of skills of our citizens, who could develop to the point of making living with this sport and also doing the nation proud by winning laurels

    “We are fulfilled with the impact, which this tournament has made in the Nigerian tennis circuit.

    “We are proud to have used this opportunity to engage a number of Nigeria youths in a very fruitful and engaging enterprise with a bright future outlook.

    “We are proud to have taken tennis to locations where high quality tennis has not taken place in a long time,” he said.

    The EVC said that the NCC Tennis Cup was a team tennis competition that was opened to all, including the very best male and female tennis players in Nigeria.

    He said that the tournament increased competition among the players, which was an advantage, when it came to preparation for other competitions within and outside Nigeria.

    Danbatta said that the tournament was endorsed by the National Tennis Federation (NTF) and had stakeholders in the Nigerian sports and telecommunications industry.

    The 12 teams were categorised into two groups of White and Blue.

    The teams under White Category are Team Ofikwu, Team Ndoma-Egba, Team Goshen, Team CBN Fututos, Team Yetade and Team Tech-Vibe.

    The Blue Group consists of Team Civil Defence, Team Kolatari, Team Muller, Team Opti Web, Team VGC Lions and Team Qualifier.

    Meanwhile, the Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung, applauded NCC for embracing sports initiative.

    Dalung called on other government agencies to emulate the NCC by integrating sports in their activities.

    NAN reports an organising committee was also inaugurated which is expected to fix a date for the tournament, among other assignments.

  • National Sports Federations: Dalung now to inaugurate new boards on July 10

    National Sports Federations: Dalung now to inaugurate new boards on July 10

    The newly-elected boards of National Sports Federations will now be inaugurated on July 10 in Abuja, an official of the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports said on Wednesday.

    Nneka Ikem-Anibeze, the Special Assistant on Media to Solomon Dalung, the Minister of Youths and Sports, said in a statement that the inauguration was scheduled for the Abuja National Stadium.

    She said the inauguration, which was earlier slated for July 13, was moved forward by three days to enable the federations hit the ground running.

    Ikem-Anibeze explained that the inauguration was also brought forward because some of the federations were preparing for major competitions outside the country, such as the Commonwealth Youth Games (CYG).

    She said the inauguration was not going to be affected by the hearing of Petitions and Appeals arising from the elections, as this would continue on Thursday.

    “A formal statement on findings, decisions and bye elections, if any, will be made on Friday.’’

  • Aisha Buhari tasks youths on hard work, dedication to service

    Aisha Buhari tasks youths on hard work, dedication to service

    The wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, has charged youths in the country to imbibe the culture of hard work and dedication to service.

    Mrs. Buhari made the call in a speech at an occasion organised to mark the Eid el-fitr for young couples at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

    Mrs. Buhari, who was represented at the event by the wife of the acting President Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo, urged the youths to stay focused and avoid anything capable of creating hate and disunity among Nigerians.

    She said that the emergency of new technology had arrested the attention of many young people in the country.

    Mrs. Buhari maintained that the younger generations of Nigerian are privileged to have come at a time where technology fastens the phase of development in the country.

    The wife of the president, therefore, cautioned them not to abuse the privilege.

    According to her, this privilege came with a huge responsibility.

    “You must plan because it is a thing of joy to see the next generation of Nigerians having responsible dreams.

    In her address of welcome, the Senior Special Assistant to the President (Administration), Dr. Hajo Sani, encouraged the youths to take up the challenges of good leadership in Nigeria.

    Sani said that Nigeria is looking forward to having future generation of young people with commitment to issues of accountability and good governance as their guiding principles.

    She, therefore, prayed for unity and stability of Nigeria as one indivisible nation.

    Also speaking, the Minister of Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalung, advised Nigerian youths to avoid any situation capable of creating ethnic and regional tension in the country.

    Dalung said that there was no alternative to peace, according to him, the government can only provide jobs and enabling environment for businesses in a society where there is peace.

    He said that countries like Syria and South Sudan could not gather to celebrate because there was no peace.

    The minister, therefore, called on youths to desist from making statement capable of causing violence.

    “Our strength is our diversity,” Dalung said.

    The minister of Labour and empowerment, Sen. Chris Ngige, said that the Federal Government has provided different job opportunities aimed at taken the youths out of streets.

    Ngige said that the jobs were created through the Federal Government social intervention schemes such as the N-Power programme where additional discipline were introduced like medical programme and electrical.

    He said that the main purpose of this job creation was to get the youths engaged and make them have a decent living.

    “We also have additional discipline called G-Programme, which is also for youths” he said.

    The minister urged the youths to have faith in the President Muhammadu Buhari’s government,

    He said that despite the challenges facing the nation as a result of the decline in revenue inflow and activities of Niger Delta avengers in the past, the government is working hard to meet their demands.

    In his vote of thanks, Mr Solomon Adejumo, who spoke on behalf of the young couples at the event, thanked the organisers of the event.

    Adejumo also thanked the various speakers for their words of encouragement to the youths and urged the Federal Government to introduce road construction and maintenance in its N-Power programme.

  • Sports Ministry declares NBBF’s election in Kano illegal

    Sports Ministry declares NBBF’s election in Kano illegal

    The Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports on Monday in Abuja said the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) elections held in Kano same day was illegal.

    Nneka Ikem-Anibeze, Special Assistant on Media to the Minister, Solomon Dalung, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja the elections were held by a faction of the Federation’s stakeholders.

    Ikem-Anibeze said the NBBF elections held in Kano were conducted by a faction led by the immediate-past president of the Federation, Tijani Umar, and was as such illegal.

    She said this was because the elections in Kano had no backing of the Ministry.

    “The NBBF will hold elections on Tuesday, alongside 31 other sports federations in Abuja,” the minister’s aide said.

    NAN reports that the elections saw Umar, the North-East representative, emerging as President, while Olumide Oyedeji, FIBA World Representative, emerged as Vice-President.

    The June 12 elections in Kano came ahead of the one being organised by the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports in Abuja.

    The ministry had fixed Tuesday for elections into all boards of the national sports federations in the country, with all the federations expected to comply.

    But a disagreement had emerged over the issue of whether or not the ministry has the right to draw up guidelines for the federations.

    NAN reports that the federations are, according to international sports federations’ standards, to be run by constitution/statutes/guidelines duly agreed to by all stakeholders in the federation.

    NBBF had earlier insisted it would conduct its elections based on the guideline prescribed by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), the basketball world governing body.

  • Physically challenged athletes turn bus conductors — Obasi

    Physically challenged athletes turn bus conductors — Obasi

    Worried by the dearth of competitions in the nation’s sports and the need to meet their needs, some physically challenged sportsmen and women have turned bus conductors to survive economic hardship.

    A Para-athlete, Mary Obasi, said on Monday in Lagos that the athletes were left with no option than that to meet their needs and sustain their families.

    Obasi in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) appealed to government at all levels to urgently find a host to stage the National Sports Festival (NSF).

    She said the athletes were tired of the sports minister’s promise to host the sports festival and now wanted him announce a date for the 19th biennial fiesta.

    NAN reports that Sports Minister Solomon Dalung had last week at a function in Abuja announced that the sports festival would hold after the completion of sports federations’ election.

    Obasi said that Para-athletes had now resorted to odd ways of life in order to survive the economic hardship.

    “We are living from hand to mouth because there is no competition to sustain us. Lack of competition has put us on the edge.

    “There is no state in the federation that can boast of keeping athletes in camp for five years without any competition in sight and that is why many athletes are now doing menial jobs.

    “Most of us who are physically challenged are roaming about the stadium begging for alms when we are pushed to the wall.

    “Many of the physically challenged have now resorted to working as bus conductors. People can check this as one of us is presently on a bus plying the Stadium-Ikeja route,’’ she said.

    Obasi said that after the last sports festival in Lagos, tagged “EKO 2012’’, Para-athletes in the country had been battling to survive economic hardship.

    “We have not had it good since the last sports festival. Many of the states have thrown their Para-athletes out of the stadium and even the stadium we are talking about is not maintained.

    “We beg the sports minister to please address this problem of “No Show’’; since he came to power nothing has happened in the sports arena even a small competition.

    “This is the first time we will be experiencing such a hard time in sports; remember that the Nigerian economy is in recession and now no competition. It’s really hard for us.

    “Maybe if the minister cannot help, the higher authorities should intervene on our behalf to save our souls,’’ she said.