By: Gracious Akujobi Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Chairman of the House of Reps’ Committee on Sports, Godfrey Gaiya and the Director General of National Sports Commission, Gbenga Elegbeleye are among dignitaries expected at the opening ceremony of the 2013 CBN Beach Soccer Challenge Cup in Abuja on Friday. Also expected at the occasion are Member of the NFF Executive Committee, Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande, NFF General Secretary, Musa Amadu and Central Bank of Nigeria’s Director of Corporate Communications, Ugo Okoroafor. Eight teams will take part in the second edition of a competition that is programmed to…
Author: tech
By: Gracious Akujobi First-time qualifiers Nigeria will play against host South Africa, Mali and Mozambique in Group A of the 2014 African Nations Championship. At the Draw held in CAF’s headquarters in Cairo, Egypt on Wednesday, the Eagles were also drawn to play Mali’s other Eagles in the first match, with the games taking place at Green Point Stadium – one of the venues for the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals. South Africa plays Mozambique in the tournament’s opening match, at the same venue. Group B will see Zimbabwe, Uganda, Burkina Faso and Morocco do battle at the Athlone Stadium,…
By: Gracious Akujobi The Nigeria Football Federation has expressed appreciation to the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola on the successful hosting of this year’s Federation Cup competition. In a letter of appreciation signed by NFF President, Aminu Maigari, the football-governing body heaped plaudits on Lagos State’s number one citizen for his sheer commitment and dedication to enabling the Federation Cup reclaim its old glory. “The NFF feels obliged to continue to praise Your Excellency’s keen interest and support for the Federation Cup, which has, as a result, reclaimed much of its glamour and glory. Your Excellency remains…
By Gracious Akujobi Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi has warned the country’s senior national team, Super Eagles not to take their Ethiopian counterpart for granted when they square up against them for the world cup 2014, play-off. Abdullahi, who was reacting to the 2014 World Cup playoffs draws conducted, last Monday in Cairo believes that only hard work and determination will earn the much desired ticket to the mundial in Brazil. “In as much as I congratulate our team for getting to this stage, I quite disagree with the insinuations making round that Ethiopia will be easy. It may not…
As an umpire of Nigeria’s electoral system, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is expected to be neutral, objective and fair in all its dealings. Every now and then, this revered body is caught pants down, displaying inexcusable lapses. The most recent case is that of the registration of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) as a political party. There can be no doubt that, when fully revealed, the circumstances surrounding what may rightly be described as the emergency registration of PDM are not only curious, but also puzzling, to say the least. The first reaction of INEC, when on August…
The decision by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar (an outsider to the plot who opportunistically joined the bandwagon) and seven Peoples Democratic Party governors to rebel against the leadership of the party has caused quite a stir in Nigeria’s political circles. It has also heightened political intrigues in the build-up to the contest for the presidency in 2015, and caused President Goodluck Jonathan to sack as many as 9 of his ministers on political considerations. Beyond these, however, is the political uncertainty and dilemma the rebelling governors now face: where to go from here. The arrowheads, Governors Aliyu Wammako (Sokoto),…
By Gracious Akujobi The Ministerial Committee on the review and restructuring of Nigeria referees has identified corruption, poor structure, poor welfare package, indiscipline among others as the major challenges confronting Nigeria football. Chris Green, the chairman of the committee disclosed this on Tuesday, while submitting its report to the Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi. According to him, “The committee identifies the problems of refereeing in Nigeria are to be associated with structure, security, welfare, corruption and discipline”. He said the committee made 10-point recommendations, noting that they were arrived at after extensive deliberations, careful observations and consultations. The recommendations include…
It is my pleasure to once again welcome us all back from the working recess during which we at least found some time off the pressures of plenary. I have no doubt that we are returning more reinforced with constituency duties arising from the expectations of our constituents as well as the needs which we have become ceased of through our observations, interactions and experiences. We should therefore be now guided more than ever before given that, the condition of our rural dwellers has witnessed only marginal improvements. Most of our people still can’t afford to live decently. They still…
The Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Muhammad Sidi has enjoined state governments not to delay in evacuating residents of flood prone areas to safer places quite ahead of disaster. Speaking in Asaba on Tuesday at a meeting organized by NEMA in collaboration with Delta Government for stakeholders in emergency management, the DG said the Agency had received reports that some resident of the flood prone areas had refused to relocate. He therefore, called on state governments to deploy the much needed political will to ensure compliance with directives to evacuate. Mr. Sidi lamented that people have refused…
As part of its corporate responsibilities, Nestle Nigeria Plc has handed over newly renovated two blocks of six classrooms to Saint Paul’s Anglican Nursery and Primary School, Orile Imo, Owode Egba in Ogun state. The company’s Managing Director, Mr Dharnesh Gordhon, while handing over the buildings on Tuesday, however called on well meaning Nigerians and corporate organizations not to leave the task of eradicating illiteracy to the government alone. According to him, all concerned people and relevant stakeholders should join hands in improving the quality of education starting from the learning environment. He said, “We should assist to improve literacy…