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Tag: National Sports Festival

  • FCT Minister receives National Sport Festival unity torch

    FCT Minister receives National Sport Festival unity torch

    The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello on Monday received the Unity Torch of the National Sports Festival at a brief ceremony held at the FCTA secretariat.

    Receiving the Torch from a contingent of FCT Athletes led by the FCTA Director of Sports, Mrs Dilichukwu Onyedinma, Bello prayed for the successful visit of the torch to all the 36 States of the Federation.

    “As we flag-off the journey of this beautiful torch of unity for the unity games, we hope that God Almighty will see this torch go through all the 36 states and culminate in Benin the Sports city.”

    The minister commended the Edo State contingent for its excellent performance during the 2019 games in the FCT in which they emerged as the overall best.

    Bello also appreciated the Ministry of Sports for partnering with the FCT Administration to revive the National Sports Festival, after six years of the Games not holding.

    According to him, the games provides a platform for Nigerian sports men and women to showcase their talents.

    The Minister was joined by the FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Tijani, the FCT Permanent Secretary, Mr Chinyeaka Ohaa, Acting Transportation Secretary, Mrs Alice Odey, among others during the ceremony.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gbagyi cultural troupe accompanied the unity torch to the Minister’s office where they provided entertainment.

  • National Sports Festival: Buhari receives `Torch of Unity”

    National Sports Festival: Buhari receives `Torch of Unity”

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in Abuja called on private sector investors to join hands with the government in youth and sports development in the country.

    The President made the call when he received the “Torch of Unity’’ and flag-off of its movement across Nigeria, heralding the National Sports Festival scheduled to hold in Benin City, the Edo State capital, in March this year.

    He reiterated his administration’s commitment to continue supporting and providing the enabling environment for the development of sports at all levels.

    ‘‘I am pleased to receive the National Sports Festival “Torch of Unity’’. It is a symbolic representation of the Unity, Peace and Solidarity amongst Nigerians, especially the athletes and officials in the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

    ‘‘Since the inception of the National Sports Festival in 1973, the Games have been a useful avenue for interaction, integration for our youth, sportsmen and women and a platform for states to showcase their best in sports.

    ‘‘It is for this reason that the Federal Government intervened to host the last edition of the Festival in the FCT in order to salvage the sports fiesta from permanent closure.

    ‘‘I wish to commend the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and the Federal Capital Territory for hosting the event in 2018,’’ he said.

    On sports development in the country, the President applauded the Ministry for initiating the Adopt an Athlete or Stadium Campaign, noting that “it is one of the useful ways to create opportunities for participation by firms and individuals’’.

    He, therefore, invited sports lovers and enthusiasts to take advantage of the Adoption Campaign to be part of raising the banner of sports in Nigeria.

    On the 2020 Olympics and Paralympic in Tokyo, Japan, scheduled for July 24 – Aug. 9 and Aug. 25 – September 6, 2020, respectively, the President used the occasion with the sports fraternity to wish the country’s athletes the best of luck at the games.

    He urged them to be good ambassadors.

    In his remarks, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare said with the flag off, the Torch of Unity is expected to move round all the States and the Federal Capital Territory before finally arriving Benin City on March 22, for the opening ceremony of the 20th Edition of the ‘‘Nigeria Olympics.’’

    ‘‘The Torch of Unity for the National Sports Festival carries with it the objectives of the festival itself, chief amongst which is to symbolise unity, peace, friendship, tolerance and hope among Nigerians.

    ‘‘When the Torch moves round the cities and people see it, they begin to properly realise the games are here, and it always brings a good feeling to everyone,’’ he said.

    The Minister also thanked the President for identifying with the Festival.

    According to him, his performing the symbolic lighting of the Torch of Unity is a testimony of the importance the administration attaches to youth and sports development in the country.

  • Edo 2020: Lagos wins S/West Zonal Eliminations

    Edo 2020: Lagos wins S/West Zonal Eliminations

    Lagos State has emerged winners of the South-West Zonal Eliminations by qualifying for 16 out of the 19 games available for the National Sports Festival (NSF) in Edo.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Lagos State had played host to the two-day South-West Zonal Eliminations for the NSF in Edo later in March.

    The sports competed for are: Football, Basketball, Cricket, Handball, Hockey, Volleyball, Beach Volleyball, Rugby and Abula.

    In the Abula game, Lagos State Female Team emerged second to join Ogun State while Team Lagos also qualifies in Male and Female Basketball, Female Volleyball and Male and Female Football.

    Others are: Male and Female Handball, Male and Female Rugby, Male and Female Hockey, Male and Female Cricket, and Female Beach Volleyball.

    On the success of Team Lagos, the Director of Sports, Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC), Simon Kolawole, said that the state had prepared ahead of the games.

    “I want to believe that with the crop of players that we have now, Nigeria should watch out for the Team Lagos.

    “We are known for our strength in grassroots development of sports, we are the only state that can boast of grooming local talents and nurturing them.

    “I want to believe that with what I have seen during the qualifiers, Lagos State will be a surprise team at the National Sports Festival proper.

    “This is because our athletes are prepared to win gold medals, we wont settle for the less,” he said.

    Kolawole said that though he could not say categorically the position Lagos would take at the NSF, but expressed optimism that the team won’t fall below the top three.

    NAN reports that Team Lagos emerged winners, while Ogun was placed second, Ondo on the third position with Oyo, Ekiti and Osun occupying the fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively.

  • Edo to host 2020 National Sports Festival

    Edo to host 2020 National Sports Festival

    Edo state will host the 20th edition of the National Sports Festival (NSF) in 2020, Solomon Dalung, the Minister of Youths and Sports Development, said on Sunday in Abuja.

    Dalung who announced this during the closing ceremony of the 19th NSF at the Abuja National Stadium said Edo was chosen after a careful assessment of its bid.

    “Edo was chosen after it has clearly show that it understands what is needed and required of it in hosting the festival.

    “The Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports Development will continue to retain its role of technical partners to the festival,’’ he said.

    The minister said Edo beat Delta, Imo and Cross River in winning the competition’s hosting right.

    Accepting the hosting right on behalf of his state, Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo said his state would be ready and accepted the challenge.

    “We accept this challenge and will be ready to host the whole of Nigeria as expected in Benin in 2020,’’ he said.

    Obaseki added that his state has all the facilities required to host the festival to the satisfaction of all.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the then Bendel State, now split into Edo and Delta, won the NSFs inaugural edition in 1973 in Lagos.

    It went on to host the 1981 edition, and the 2002 edition as Edo State.