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Tag: Sports Minister

  • Former Sports Minister Lawal dies at 83

    Former Sports Minister Lawal dies at 83

    A former Nigerian Minister of Youth and Sports Air Vice Marshal Adebayo Hamed Lawal (rtd) is dead.

    According to his daughter, Mrs. Yinka Enahoro, AVM Lawal died in his sleep on  Sunday, June 23at his home. He was  83.

    The Sergeant at Arms at the National Assembly, Air Commodore Sani Zakari (rtd), who also confirmed the ex-minister’s death to the media noted that the funeral was to be held yesterday.

     “AVM Frank Ajobena (rtd) further informed us that AVM Bayo Lawal passed on in his sleep at the early hours of Sunday 23 Jun 24,” Zakari said.

    AVM was born on 14 September, 1941 in Offa, Kwara State.

    He attended Government College, Ibadan between 1955 and 1962 before joining the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in 1963 among the pioneer officers.

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    Lawal was trained as a Military Pilot in West Germany from where he graduated in 1964.

    His postings included Commander, NAF Port Harcourt (1969–1970), Commander, Enugu Air Force Base, 1970-72; NAF Kano twice; (1972–1973) and (1975–1977) and Air Officer Commanding HQ Tactical Air Command NAF Makurdi. (1977–1978).

    AVM Lawal was a very active and vibrant fighter pilot who was at a point the Commander, Nigerian Air Force Base, Makurdi, 1977-78, before his appointment as Military Governor of Benue State in July 1978 until October 1979.

    At one time, he was Director of Air Faculty Command and Staff College Jaji. He was later appointed Federal Minister of Youth and Sports.

    After retirement, he went into business and philanthropy. He is survived by his wife, children and grandchildren.

  • Sports Minister  salutes Ndidi on EPL promotion with Leicester

    Sports Minister  salutes Ndidi on EPL promotion with Leicester

    Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh  has extended his congratulations to  Wilfred  Ndidi  for  helping Leicester City secure  promotion to the English Premier League.

    Senator Enoh said  as such  when the 27-year-old midfielder paid a courtesy visit to this office  yesterday accompanied by his manager, Yahaya Atom, and Mr. Yemi Idowu.

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     Ndidi engaged in discussions with the Sports Minister on various matters pertaining to Nigerian football.

    Acknowledging   the  contributions of the Super Eagles midfielder  to the success of the Leicester City in the Championship , Senator Enoh  took the opportunity to discuss the upcoming World Cup qualifying matches, scheduled to commence early next month.

    The minister emphasized the importance of preparation and urged Ndidi to play a pivotal role in the Super Eagles’ quest to secure their place in the World Cup. He encouraged Ndidi to continue to exhibit the same level of dedication and skill that has made him a valuable asset to both club and country.

    Also, Ndidi conveyed his appreciation to Senator Enoh, expressing gratitude for the minister’s undiluted support and commitment to the well-being of the Super Eagles team, particularly during the recent Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.

     He commended Senator Enoh for the excellent care and assistance provided to the team throughout their campaign.

    The meeting concluded on a positive note, with both Ndidi and Senator Enoh expressing optimism for the future of Nigerian football and pledging their continued support to the advancement of the sport in the country.

  • AFCON final: Sports Minister solicits funds for Eagles

    AFCON final: Sports Minister solicits funds for Eagles

    Sports Minister Senator John Enoh has urged private and Corporate Nigeria to massively support the Super Eagles financially as they go in the hunt for the fourth Africa Cup of Nations title on Sunday in Cote ‘d’Ivoire.

    The Eagles will square up against the hosts, Elephant of Cote ‘D’Ivoire at the Alassane Quattara Stadium, Ebimpe near Abidjan  on Sunday as Nigeria bid to conquer  the continent as did the illustrious team of 1980, 1994 and 2013.   

    Sunday’s match  will be a repeat of the group stage tie between both sides  at Cote d’Ivoire 2023  which  the Super  Eagles  won  with a solitary 1-0 margin but the stake  according to the Senator Enoh would be much higher in the Final Match hence the clarion call for  financial pledges to boost the team’s morale.

     He  said the move became  imperative with the present economic challenge amidst other national priorities and the fact that the government alone cannot solely do it all.

    “The curtain will fall on the African Cup of Nations football tournament on Sunday February 11, 2024 with our senior national team, the Super Eagles facing the Cote d’Ivoire national team in the finals,” Senator Enoh said in a  statement he signed.

    “The inspiring performance of the Super Eagles thus far has lifted the spirit of our country and united us the way no other aspect of our national aspiration can. The outstanding performance they have posted so far underscores the resilient and indomitable Nigerian Spirit which surmounts obstacles to achieve individual and collective objectives.

    “The feel good feeling the country is suffused with as a result of the heroics of the Super Eagles thus far needs to be sustained until the team lifts the coveted trophy for historic fourth time. The current administration of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has demonstrated full support to the national team unprecedented in the contemporary history of sports administration in our country.

    “In the face of paucity of funds amidst competing national priorities, it has become self-evident and abundantly clear that government alone cannot fund sports development in our country. It is based on the understanding of this reality that I am making this impassioned appeal to private individuals and corporate Nigeria to support our national team, the Super Eagles to win the African Cup of Nations trophy.

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    “I believe that in this critical moment in which the Super Eagles are on the cusp of victory, all Nigerians need to support and motivate them to go all the way to win the cup. My expectation is that public spirited individuals and corporate Nigeria should make a promise of financial support to the Super Eagles team in the likelihood of their winning the final match on Sunday.

    “This will be announced to the team ahead of the Sunday match.

    “Our country is on the threshold of history. I call on sports loving Nigerians in their private and corporate capacities to massively support the team. Together, “Let’s Do It Again” for the love of country.

    “Pledges and commitments for the team should be made directly to the Super Eagles Team Manager, Mr. Enebi Achor who can be reached on +2348037860516,” he added.

  • Supporters Club congratulates Sports Minister Enoh

    Supporters Club congratulates Sports Minister Enoh

    The Nigeria Football Supporters Club (NFSC) has congratulated the new Sports Minister Senator John Enoh on his appointment.

    In a statement signed by its President General, Dr. Rafiu Oladipo welcomes him to “the most popular and talked about ministry.”

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    He noted that sports gives every country positive image across the World, while advising him to look out for people who have genuine interest in sports as well as technocrats that will help improve Nigerian sports.

    “Our sports need a re-engineering, one that will return the lost glory of Nigerian sports.

    The Supporters Club while pledging its support, urged Enoh to give attention to all sports.

  • Enoh: GTI boss felicitates with new Sports Minister

    Enoh: GTI boss felicitates with new Sports Minister

    The GMD of strategic partners to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), GTI Asset Management & Trust Limited, Abubakar Lawal has congratulated Senator John Owan Enoh on his appointment as Minister of Sports Development.

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, last Wednesday named Senator Enoh, a two-term Member of the House of Representatives and one-term Member of the Senate of the Federal Republic, as the new Minister of Sports Development.

    Lawal sent the congratulatory message in a press statement made available to journalists in Lagos on Friday.

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     “I want to congratulate Senator Enoh on his appointment as Sports Minister and we hope he hits the ground running because of the enormous challenges facing the sports ecosystem,” Lawal began.

    “GTI as strategic partners to the NPFL is neck-deep in ensuring that our football is well restructured and repositioned in line with international best practices and our efforts are already bearing fruits.

    “I pray with the support of Corporate Nigeria and other well-meaning stakeholders in the sports industry, the new sports minister should be able to take Nigerian sports to enviable height. From GTI, we will continue to work closely with the newly inaugurated Board of the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) led by Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye towards a successful and seamless execution of the upcoming season.”

    Lawal charged Senator Enoh to ensure that government continues to compliment the efforts of corporate bodies to provide environment that is safe and conducive for sports development to thrive in the country.

    The GTI boss further stated with a tinge of regret that the country is well blessed with talented sportsmen and women at the grassroots, but how to unearth these future superstars remain a herculean task which must be surmounted.

    “GTI is willing and fully ready to cooperate and collaborate meaningfully and positively with the new sports minister to harness the potentials locked in Nigeria’s sports industry. We have already taken up the NPFL project and our aim is to make our elite football league a thriving transparent business enterprise that is capable of sustaining itself and employing millions of Nigerians who are ready to contribute significantly to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product,” Lawal concluded.

  • Nigerians want only victories from you Minister charges Falcons

     

    Super Falcons have been told to settle for only victories in their remaining qualifiers leading to the 2020 Olympics,  as that is the only news Nigerians expect to hear.

    Sports minister Sunday Dare who gave the charge opined that it is the business of the girls to do their job on the pitch, promising that government on its part will ensure their welfare.

    The Minister who visited the girls at their Abuja Stadium training camp on Tuesday, had only few days ago waded into the sudden disappearance of the team’s coach Thomas Dernneby who is being suspected to have dumped the job.

    “This morning I visited the super falcons during their training at the Moshood Abiola Stadium Abuja. I gave inspiring words and assured them that the government will ensure their welfare. I told them Nigerians will expect only victories in their remaining qualifiers,” the minister revealed Tuesday.

    How About this : Falcons player in leg walk with the minister

    Falcons will in continuation of their 2020 Olympic Qualifiers take on their Ivorian counterparts September 30th with the return leg billed for Lagos October 4th.

    The Super Falcons who got a bye in the first round of the Olympic qualifiers edged out Algerian ladies 3-0 in the second round to earn a place in the third round.

    Should the Falcons succeed in disarming Cote d Ivoire in the forth-coming two legged third round, they will face either DR Congo or Cameroon in the fourth round.

  • We didn’t expect Falcons to win, says Sports Minister

    We didn’t expect Falcons to win, says Sports Minister

    The Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung on Thursday said that Super Falcons winning the African Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON) trophy last Saturday, took the government by surprise as proper arrangements were not made.

    According to him, funds were not available because the team was not expected to win the trophy.

    The victorious female footballers expressed their disappointment in Abuja on Wednesday as they seized the trophy and refused to vacate their hotel rooms.

    Speaking with State House correspondents over the embarrassing development, Dalung said that if the NFF was confident of the victory in Cameroon, it would have applied for and processed the funds for their bonuses early enough to avoid the ugly aftermath.

    He said that government needed to perform a ‘surgery’ on the sports sector otherwise, similar occurrences are bound to happen again.

    “It is unfortunate that we are celebrating victory of the Super Falcons amidst some bitter feelings among the players because of some administrative lapses that were not managed properly.

    “If the situation was explained to these girls I don’t think the situation would have gotten to this level. But we are working round to clock to ensure that what belongs to them legitimately is given to them. This has to do with government process.

    “One thing I always make clear is that the process of request for funds for sporting projects must come earlier to meet the objectives. Don’t forget that nobody even knew the team would emerge victorious, if we were confident they will emerge victorious, all the Federation would have done is to plan for process of participation and entitlement.

    “It is already established in sports tradition, when you win this is what you are entitled to. The situation is highly unfortunate and I don’t like it. These girls have given confidence to women who want to embrace sports but this will go a long way in killing this laudable achievement. It is unfortunate but we will make sure the right thing is done,” he said.

    Stressing that the team’s coaches are owed backlog of salaries, he said: “It is a complex situation but the entire governance of football deserves an urgent surgery. If that surgery is not done we will always live with the embarrassment. I’m talking about the governance of football administration in Nigeria.”

    He pointed out that the issue of non-interference has been used to harass and intimidate government and that will no longer be allowed as the government is being embarrassed by the activities.

    “They use it to scandalise the government so the man who is at the receiving end has the responsibility to ensure that things must be done right so we must take steps to ensure that money meant for athletes get to them on time as at when due.”

    According to him, similar situation was prevented from happening during the last Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil as the government insisted that all athletes be paid their 22-day entitlements directly from government purse and not through their respective sports federations.

  • Ex-Sports minister elected new APC spokesman

    Ex-Sports minister elected new APC spokesman

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday got a new National Publicity Secretary when the North Central Zone of the party unanimously elected former Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi, as the spokesperson of the party.
    But the suspended Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Comrade Timi Frank said he remains  the Acting National Publicity Secretary of the party pending the outcome of the case he instituted against the party.
    The suit which was filed before an Abuja High Court comes up for mention in December 5.
    Abdullahi from Kwara state is expected to replace Alhaji Lai Mohammed who vacated the seat about one year ago when he was appointed Minister of Information by President Muhammadu Buhari.
    Others elected along with Abdullahi are Mohammed Zakari who was elected Deputy National Treasurer, while Zakari Mohammed and Abdul Magun Ibrahim were elected to fill the vacant positions of Zonal Secretary and Zonal Organising Secretary respectively.
    The event was attended by the governors of Plateau and Niger States, Barr Simon Lalong and Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello respectively, the representatives of the Kogi and Benue States governors, the representatives of the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, the National Vice Chairman of the zone, Alhaji Zakari Idde among others were present at the mini congress which elected the former Youth Minister the APC spokesperson and three other national officers.
    Abdullahi was nominated for the position by the Deputy Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Godiya Akwashiki and seconded by  Senator Abdullahi representing Niger North senatorial zone before his nomination was confirmation through a voice vote.
    Three others were also elected to fill vacant positions zoned to the north central as well as the zonal executive of the party.
    Speaking on behalf of other elected officers, Mallam Abdullahi assured that he will operate under different template and terrain with his predecessor and do everything humanly possible to endear the party to Nigerians.
    He however told newsmen that he was conscious of the fact that the position of the spokesperson of the ruling party is an entirely different assignment from his former position as Minister of Sports.

  • Nigeria will not leave Rio without medals – Minister

    Nigeria will not leave Rio without medals – Minister

    Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung , has again reassured Nigerians that the efforts of the athletes competing at the ongoing Rio Olympic Games will not be in vain as, “we will not leave Rio without winning medals’.

    Tony Ubani, Press Officer, Team Nigeria, quoted the minister as saying shortly after Union Bank Nigeria PLC redeemed its N30million pledge to support the team.

    Although, Nigeria’s name was yet to be on the medal table, Dalung said that he was optimistic that Team Nigeria would still win medals.

    According to him, the minister commended the bank for the support.

    “We’re grateful for your donation and we promise to ensure a transparent management of the fund, for you to do more.”

    Ubani said that Yinka Kadejoh, the Events and Sports Officer of the bank presented ATM cards loaded with N250,000 to each of the athletes .

    He said that they could use the cards anywhere in the world.

    The  News Agency of Nigeria  (NAN) reports that the ceremony took place at the secretariat of Team Nigeria in Rio.

     

  • Federation Cup: Kanu boosts Papilo FC ahead clash against Rivers United

    Ahead of today’s round of 64 tie in this year’s Federation Cup, proprietor of Papilo FC of Owerri, Nwankwo Kanu has boosted the amateur side with special attention to their welfare.

    The giant killing side will have their hands full today when they battle for a place in the last 32 against Nigeria Premier League side, Rivers United in Umuahia, Kanu is placing priority on the welfare and general condition of the team with a N50m reception/launch ceremony.

    According to the organizer of the event, and Chief Executive Officer of All Seasons Hotel, Myke Ikoku the ceremony would be chaired by Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Capital Oil & Gas, on Saturday, May 28, 2016 at the Nwankwo Kanu Sports Complex, behind Imo State University, Owerri.

    According to him, “Kanu’s aim of sponsoring this event is to ensure that other budding and talented footballers follow in his successful footsteps as a footballer. He sincerely wants to give back to the people all the glory, honour and rhapsodies that football has been giving him.”

    Ikoku added that the event was expected to attract big shots in the football, business and political fields including serving and former Ministers, National Assembly members, state governors, and the Sports Minister, Barrister Solomon Dalong.