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Tag: Sports Ministry

  • Nigeria Gears Up for Paris Olympics: Sports Minister John Enoh Shares Preparatory Updates

    Nigeria Gears Up for Paris Olympics: Sports Minister John Enoh Shares Preparatory Updates

    By Milcah Tanimu

    The Minister of Sports Development, John Enoh, has confirmed that various Nigerian teams are traveling abroad to start their preparations for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Enoh noted that the Super Falcons of Nigeria and the basketball teams have already begun their overseas training camps ahead of the Olympics.

    According to the sports minister, these foreign camps will enable the teams to focus on their preparations and fine-tune their skills for the upcoming games.

    Enoh emphasized that the goal of his ministry and all involved federations is to return from Paris with medals.

    A statement from John Enoh, signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Diana-Mary Nsan, reads in part: “Different sports are already embarking on the foreign leg of their preparations. The Super Falcons are currently in Spain, and the basketball team has also opened foreign camps. Other teams will follow suit in the new week.

    “The Ministerial Podium Performance Committee has continued to give me reports, and teams are also working with them to ensure we return with medals from Paris. We are confident it will be a good outing for our nation.”

    The 2024 Paris Olympics is scheduled to commence on July 26 and end on August 27.

    In a statement from the sports ministry, John Enoh expressed his gratitude to Nigeria’s president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his support of the teams representing Nigeria in Paris.

    “I want to use this medium to thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for all the support he has given Team Nigeria in preparation for the Olympics. He has always shown he has sports in his heart and we are more than glad to have him lead our nation at a time like this,” Enoh said.

  • Only Sports Ministry can Resolve NBBF Crisis — Ex NBBF Board Memeber

    Only Sports Ministry can Resolve NBBF Crisis — Ex NBBF Board Memeber

    A former board member of the Nigeria Basketball Federation NBBF Alhaji Mustapha Liman has lauded the initiative of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development in tackling the leadership crisis rocking the NBBF, insisting that the neutrality position of the sports ministry is the only panacea to resolving the lingering leadership tussle.

    Liman told journalist in Abuja on Tuesday, that the problem of the NBBF local and hence local approach should be employed in resolving the issue, while noting that some selfish Nigerians have decided to use FIBA as a pawn in escalating the crisis.

    The former basketball player and coach admitted that that the game of basketball in Nigeria was been killed by those who took charge of the in administering the slam and dunk game 5 years ago, he insisted that fresh and young minds should come on board to salvage the game.

    “What is happening in Nigeria basketball is so sad, but I am happy that the Ministry is taking the right decision, from all indications; the ministry has showed that they are neutral. The best thing to do now is that the Ministry should organise a fresh election by using their guideline as applicable to other federations; and not the satanic document they are calling consistuition…..Engr.Musa Kida has been on the board of NBBF since 1997, he is the longest serving board member but unfortunately with nothing to show.It is very sad what happened 5 years ago when the game was hijacked. They killed the league and they started depending on foreign players.” Liman stated.

    The former Niger Potter coach queried why Engr. Kida has not settled the allowances and bonuses owed the D’Tigress, despite interventions from the Sports Ministry and the National Assembly after the international embarrassment his action brought to the country.

  • Sports Ministry Will Tackle ‘age cheat’ at National Youth Games — Sport Minister

    Sports Ministry Will Tackle ‘age cheat’ at National Youth Games — Sport Minister

    Sunday Dare, Minister of Youth and Sports has said they are putting in measures to ensure that athletes participating in National Youth Games in the country don’t cheat with their age.

    Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 6th National Youth Games held in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, the Minister said they will be carrying out adequate screening and ensure National Identity Management Card registration, to address issues of “age cheat” in the games.

    Dare condemned some of the incidents witnessed at the games which is meant for athletes under the age of 15, adding that it may affect the growth of sports in the country.

    He said;

    “This document would be required, would be developed and we will work in conjunction with the Organisation in charge. This measure is needed to avoid losing out on a possible potential medalist being screened out as over-aged while they are not or vice versa.

    “This is a crucial step in the initiatives that the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development has adopted to identify these talents early, give them the technical and financial support, provide them guidance and see them become world beaters in the not too distant future”

  • Age cheats at National Youth Games are in for trouble – Sports ministry

    Age cheats at National Youth Games are in for trouble – Sports ministry

    Age cheats at the October National Youth Games in Ilorin will be severely dealt with, the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development warned in Abuja on Tuesday.

    Mr Bode Durotoye, Director of Grassroots Sports Development in the ministry gave the warning and said offending states or athletes would not go scot-free.

    He said machinery had been put in place to fish out and sanction age cheats and other sharp practices by teams participating in the annual games.

    Durotoye noted that elimination for eight team sports had been concluded in the six geo-political zones of the country.

    Our correspondent reports that the games are scheduled to hold from Oct. 10 to Oct. 19 at the University of Ilorin sports complex.

    The 36 states of the federation and the FCT are expected to participate at the weeklong sporting event, an avenue for discovering young talents.

  • COVID19: Gaya lauds Sports Ministry on suspension of sports activities

    COVID19: Gaya lauds Sports Ministry on suspension of sports activities

    Godfrey Gaya, former Chairman, House Committee on Sports, has lauded the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development on the suspension of all sporting activities in Nigeria due to Coronavirus scare.

    Gaya told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja that it was a right decision considering the effect of the disease on the nation.

    “Coronavirus is real and its affecting human lives, so it is important that the government take steps to reduce the spread.

    “Sporting activities is a gathering of so many people and at this point we are told to avoid crowdy places and reduce physical contact, so the suspension is in the interest of the country,” he said.

    The 20th National Sports Festival scheduled to begin on Sunday in Edo was also postponed due to COVID-19 fears. (NAN)

  • Sports Ministry should be blamed for issues on recent para-powerlifting world cup, Uboh-Idris says

    Sports Ministry should be blamed for issues on recent para-powerlifting world cup, Uboh-Idris says

    Queen Uboh-Idris, the immediate-past President of the Nigeria Para-Powerlifting Federation (NPPF), says the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports Development should be blamed for the issues which trailed the recent Para-Powerlifting World Cup.
    Uboh-Idris made the claim at a news conference in Abuja Wednesday to clear the air over issues which surrounded the shoddy organisation of the event.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the competition was held in Abuja from Feb. 5 to Feb. 7.
    “The ministry did not bring any money for the organisation of the world cup. I wrote to the ministry sometime in August 2019 , informing them of this competition but they told me they didn’t have money.
    “A Director in the ministry, Tayo Oreweme, in an interview with a television station said the country was not ready for the event and there was no money to host the event.
    “I had to run to my friends and family. Thankfully, Aisha Buhari, President Muhammadu Buhari’s wife, who was the chief host and grand matron of the event, as well as Cecilia Ezilo, the deputy governor of Enugu state, came to our rescue,” Uboh-Idris claimed further.
    Uboh-Idris, who also resigned shortly after the event, blamed her resignation on bullying and intimidation by the ministry officials.
    “I sent my resignation letter to the ministry on Feb. 7 and my reason for the resignation was because I was psychologically and emotionally traumatised by the actions of the Sports Minister, Sunday Dare, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Gabriel Aduda, and some members of the NPPF board.
    “I have been bullied and intimidated by the said people and have been verbally assaulted by Oreweme, a director in the ministry.
    “I was held hostage for three hours by some NPPF board members. All these affected my health and the climax was my resignation,” she alleged.
    On the claim that a trophy won by Nigeria was still in her possession, Uboh-Idris said the trophy which is named after Mrs Buhari was not in her possession.
    “But it is with the matron of the event, Mrs Ezilo, and will be delivered to Mrs Buhari.”
    She added that the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) scored Nigeria above average on the organisation of the event.
    The former NPPF president also claimed that all members of contingents from all the West African countries which participated in the event were given free accommodation.(NAN)