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Tag: NSF

  • NSF: Ondo female boxers pick two final spots

    NSF: Ondo female boxers pick two final spots

    Ondo State female boxers have picked two final spots in the boxing event at the ongoing National Sports Festival in Benin.

    Kemi James of Ondo State, fighting in the featherweight category, out-punched Akinremi Azizat of Ogun state in the semi final on Saturday to book a place in the Sunday’s final.

    Roseline Chukwu, also of Ondo state, beat Sakirat Kareem of Oyo state in the semi final of the bantamweight event to qualify for the finals; she will face Idera Monday of Akwa Ibom in the final.

    James said she was happy with her performance and was hopeful of winning gold in the final.

    “I am hopeful that gold will be mine, I have set my eyes on the medal and I believe by the grace of God, the gold will be ours in Ondo,” she said.

  • 20th NSF: 16 swimming records broken in Edo

    20th NSF: 16 swimming records broken in Edo

    Sixteen National and Festival records have so far been set in the swimming event at the ongoing National Sports Festival (NSF), Edo 2020.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that while two of the records are set in National Records (NR), 14 records have been broken in Festival Records (FR).

    NAN reports that Team Edo set a new NR in 4×200m freestyle women relay in swimming in a time of 10:00.53 to erase the old record of 10:10.89 set in 2006.

    In the 800m freestyle men, Opute Clinton of Delta set a new NR of 9:34.53 to cancel out the old record of 9:40.20 established in 2006.

    Swimming sensation Ifiezegbe Gagbe from Bayelsa, has been the cynosure of all eyes, with her new FR records in six events at the festival so far.

    She has created new records in 100m Freestyle, 400m individual medley, 1500m freestyle, 200m freestyle and the 400m freestyle respectively.

    The Bayelsa swimmer returned in a time of 1:01.54 in the 100m freestyle for women, against the former FR of 1:02.66 set in 2012.

    Gagbe also set new FR of 5:46.95 in the 400m individual medley to erase the 2006 FR of 5:47.95.

    The queen of the pool also set new FR of 21:04.92 in the1500m freestyle women to cancel out 21:05.10 set in 2018.

    The athlete further created new FR of 2:17.05 in 200m as against 2018 FR of 2:20.28 and 5:04.30 in 400m to erase the old 2012 FR of 5:09.71.

    Another athlete, Timipamere Akiayefa of Delta, created two new records in 50m Backstroke for women and in the 50m Butterfly.

    She returned in a time of 31:73 in the 50m Backstroke to cancel out the previous record of 32:10 set in 2006 while she set new FR 50m Butterfly record of 29: 34 to erase the 2018 record of 29:87.

    Akiayefa, along with her colleagues, similarly created a new FR record in the 4×100m freestyle when they finished the race in a time of 4:20.98 to erase the 2018 record of 4:22.56.

    NAN reports that other records created are in the 100m Breaststroke for men and women, 4×200m freestyle women, 50m Butterfly men, 100m Butterfly men and the 800m freestyle men.

    The swimming event is ongoing at the NSF, tagged “Edo 2020”.

  • LOC backs down on threat to shut down 20th NSF

    LOC backs down on threat to shut down 20th NSF

    The Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the 20th National Sports Festival (NSF) tagged ”Edo 2020” has rescinded its decision to abruptly shut down the 13-day event.

    Musa Ebomhiana, a Project Manager in the LOC’s Media and Communication Sub-Committee, in a statement Thursday evening said the decision was taken after an emergency meeting.

    He said the meeting was to review the Presidential intervention which came after a financial crisis threatened the festival.

    Ebomhiana disclosed that the meeting, which was presided over by the LOC Chairman, Philip Shaibu, agreed that the festival should continue.

    “The LOC agreed that the Presidential intervention is a very strong and direct commitment which we must all respect, honour and take seriously.

    “We strongly believe and respect them commitment from the Presidency. We take them by their words.

    “It’s a strong message to us that they are committed to redeeming their pledge to support us for the losses suffered arising from the three postponements of the games,” he said.

    The LOC then commended President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo for their commitment towards the success of the festival.

    The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development had earlier assured that the 20th NSF hosts would get Federal Government’s financial support to ensure the Games go on as planned.

    Nebeolisa Anako, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, while giving the assurance at a press conference in Benin, had stated that the process of getting funds was at an advance stage.

    The assurance came on the heels of Wednesday’s threat by the Edo Government to abruptly shut down the festival by noon on Thursday.

    Edo’s threat was as a result of the non-release of the support fund promised by the Federal Government.

    NAN reports that Edo had made good its threat when it shut down the secretariat of the festival’s Main Organising Committee (MOC) on Thursday morning.

  • Obaseki explains how heavy Benin storm stops Osinbajo from attending NSF opening

    Obaseki explains how heavy Benin storm stops Osinbajo from attending NSF opening

    Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo missed the official opening of the 20th National Sports Festival in Benin due to the storm at the city’s airport, Edo’s Gov. Godwin Obaseki said on Tuesday.

    Obaseki, in his address at Tuesday’s opening ceremony of the festival tagged “Edo 2020”, said the vice-president tried to be at the venue of the event.

    “But his plane had to be diverted due to the bad weather,” he said.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that an afternoon downpour delayed the commencement of the ceremony, which was later held amidst colourful cultural presentations by several artistes and troupes.

    Obaseki, however, commended Osinbajo for finding time out of his busy schedule, even though, he could not finally make it.

    TNG reports that Osinbajo was due to stand in for President Muhammadu Buhari at the event which marked the opening of the April 2 to April 14 competition.

    “We are grateful, for he has taken time out his busy schedule to be here with us this evening even though he could not finally make it.

    “He is a friend of Edo and we appreciate this gesture,” Obaseki said.

    However, in the absence of Vice-President Osinbajo, Sunday Dare, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, stood in to deliver President Buhari’s message to the festival.

    He described the festival as an avenue to showcases Nigeria’s best talents in over 32 different sports events.

    “The NSF is the biggest sports fiesta in the country, where both professionals and home-based athletes converge to display their prowess.

    “Although the 20th National Sports Festival is supposed to have taken place one year ago, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it suffered several postponements.

    “However, the determination of President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that youths were engaged productively through sports, is notable.

    “So also are the doggedness of the Edo Government to host the festival and the unwavering commitment of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.

    “Now, we are glad today that we finally are having the festival. It is indeed a befitting festival,” the president said.

    He commended the young athletes who have converged in Benin for the competition, saying the festival remained one of the veritable tools for uniting the country.

    “The NSF is also a tool to bring our young men and women to interact, to make friends, to compete and it also provides an avenue to discover talents in various sports who will represent the country in the global sports arena.

    “I therefore thank the government and people of Edo for keeping their promise of hosting the festival in spite of the numerous challenges brought about by the postponement which occurred almost a year ago.

    “The investment made in sports infrastructure and allied structures by the Edo government signposts the direction our sports development must take in Nigeria.

    “No doubt, an investment in both our both men and women and sports infrastructure is most desired.”

  • 20th NSF: Edo win 2 gold medals in cricket

    20th NSF: Edo win 2 gold medals in cricket

    Team Edo on Monday evening won the gold medals in the male and female six-a-side cricket event at the ongoing 20th National Sports Festival (NSF) in Benin.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Edo male team won after defeating Kwara while their female team won against Lagos.

    Lagos and Akwa Ibom came third in the male and female categories respectively to win the silver medals.

    A member of the Edo team’s coaching crew, Theophilus Ibodeme, described their success as an act of God and the result of hard work.

    “We dedicate these gold medals to God Almighty and by His grace, we hope for the best,” he stated.

    NAN reports that six gold medals are available in the cricket competition, with four of them now left to be struggled for.

    They are in the T20 event for male and female, as well as the ODI for both male and female.

    Competition in the cricket event will continue on Wednesday.

  • Lagos Govt. gifts cash rewards to 2018 NSF medalists

    Lagos Govt. gifts cash rewards to 2018 NSF medalists

    The Lagos State Government on Thursday redeemed its pledge by gifting the 2018 National Sports Festivals’ (NSF) athletes various cash rewards for doing the state proud.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the award ceremony for the 2018 contingent was held at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Indoor Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere.

    The athletes were rewarded in accordance with medals won at the 2018 NSF in Abuja.

    Athletes who won individual gold medal got N300,000; silver medalists were rewarded with N200, 000 for their efforts, and bronze medalists, N100,000.

    For the team sports, gold medalists got N750,000, while silver medalist received N500,000 and bronze medalist, N300,000 for their various efforts.

    The Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Segun Dawodu, who commended the state government’s gesture, said that the ceremony was a testimony of the governments integrity of keeping its words.

    “Lagos has a culture of fulfilling its promises and this is the essence of this ceremony today. We want to reassure the athletes of our commitment to their welfare.

    “Although the present government did not make the promise to them, but we are obliged to keep the promise made by previous administration in rewarding the athletes.

    “This is a way to encourage the athletes to do their best in the coming NSF and that any promise made to them will be fulfilled, he said.

    The Chairman of Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC), Sola Aiyepeku, restated the commission’s resolve at taking care of their welfare for better outing during Edo 2020 in Benin.

    “There has been a lot of bad experiences in the past, when some promised but failed, this is not our own style as we will fulfil our promises.

    “We had dialogue with the sports loving Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on the backlog of the promise made to our athletes yet unfulfilled and he promised to see to it.

    “The governor is desirous of the welfare of our athletes so he approved that they should be well compensated and it is ironic that we are doing it now after several postponements since January.

    “We have even gone ahead to solicit for funds for those going to the Olympics from the governor and he has approved N2.5 million for each athlete, he said.

    The Lagos State Team Captain, Ahmed Koleosho, said that the cash reward would go a long way to motivating the athletes who had pledged to give their best at the Edo 2020 festival.

    “This is the biggest morale booster for us and we expect our athletes to even perform better in their outings come NSF Edo 2020, he said.

    Nigeria’s number one ranked Table Tennis player, Bose Odunsanya, who also applauded the state government’s gesture, noted that she was ready to defend his number one title.

  • UNIBEN orders students to vacate halls of residence

    UNIBEN orders students to vacate halls of residence

    Ahead of the 20th National Sports Festival (Edo 2020), the Senate of the University of Benin (UniBen) has ordered students to vacate its Halls of Residence from April 1.

    The university hall of residence have been earmarked for the use of contingents coming for the festival holding in Benin between April 2 and April 14.

    A statement issued on Wednesday in Benin by the Public Relations Officer of the institution, Dr Benedicta Ehanire, said the UniBen management had provided holding facilities for students who may need to keep their luggage.

    She said that the luggage must be tagged and dropped under strict security supervision while their mid-session break lasted.

    “Following the directive by the Senate of the University of Benin for students to vacate the Halls of Residence on April 1, the Management of the Institution has provided holding facilities for students who need to store their property.

    “The property must be tagged and dropped under strict security supervision, while away on the midsession break.

    “Towards that objective, lecture theatres, starting with the Faculty of Education lecture theatre have been made available.

    “Students are to take advantage of the storage facilities,” she said.

    Meanwhile, the university management clarified that the suspension from office of the leaders of students’ union body in the institution affected the three arms, comprising the Executive, Parliamentary and the Judiciary.

  • Sports fans can’t watch 20th NSF events live – Organisers

    Sports fans can’t watch 20th NSF events live – Organisers

    Sports fans hoping to watch live games of the rescheduled 20th National Sports Festival (NSF) will not have the opportunity to do so, the organisers announced on Monday.

    Philip Shaibu, Chairman of the festival’s Local Organising Committee (LOC) and also Deputy Governor of Edo, disclosed this at a news conference in Benin.

    “The decision was taken as a measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19 during the games,” he said.

    The LOC chairman however pointed out that other channels where the games could be watched live by spectators have been put in place.

    “Television stations will be beaming the games live, while social media channels among others will also be live-streaming the games.”

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 20th NSF tagged “Edo 2020” has been rescheduled to take place from April 2 to April 14 after several postponements.

  • Gov. Obaseki to receive NSF’s torch of unity April 3

    Gov. Obaseki to receive NSF’s torch of unity April 3

    Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo will on April 3 receive the torch of unity of the 20th National Sports Festival (NSF) tagged “Edo 2020”, an official said on Monday.

    Philip Shaibu, Chairman of the festival’s Local Organising Committee (LOC), in a statement said the torch of unity would arrive in Benin same day.

    “Thereafter, the torch will then be taken on a tour of the 18 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.

    ”It will return to Benin, where the governor is expected to light the festival torch on April 6,” Shaibu, who is also the state’s Deputy Governor, said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a total of 8,000 athletes from the FCT and the 36 states of the federation are expected to participate in the festival.

    The festival had suffered a number of postponements, owing to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it will now take place from April 2 to April 14

  • NSF 2020: Sports minister raises fresh hope

    NSF 2020: Sports minister raises fresh hope

    The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, on Tuesday raised fresh hope of having the postponed 2020 National Sports Festival (NSF), tagged “Edo 2020” amid the COVID-19 scare.

    Dare gave the breather while responding to questions on the sidelines of the signing of the N150m worth league sponsorships Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Total E&P and the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF).

    The NSF scheduled to have been held in March was put on hold indefinitely as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Dare, however, hinted that the much-desired “local Olympics” could have a green light to hold in the shortest possible time based on the recommendations from relevant stakeholders.

    “It is our desire to have the NSF which I call `Nigerian Olympics’. We have showed commitments, we have a team, we have the report in which it is suggested for October.

    “This is based on the COVID-19 infection rate and other infrastructural protocols and we have been working with the Presidential Task Force (PTF), Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the Ministry of Health.

    “The Sports Ministry will be properly guided, we will have the sports festival and it will feature the contact and non-contact sports.

    “The world have started both contact and non-contact sports. There are protocols in place, they are the best practices; if we repeat same here we will get on with our lives,” he said.

    Dare said that sports ministry had provided all the necessary documents, adding that there would be a pilot programme with athletes camping for two weeks.

    “In a matter of weeks, we have provided all the necessary documents and preparations two months ago, and we have submitted to the PTF.

    “A document on contact and non-contact sports with a particular section dedicated to football, so we are all set in a couple of weeks.

    “We hope to open athletes’ camps in three different locations, Akure, Abuja and Pankishin in Jos, to help our athletes shove off the rustiness of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.

    “It will be a two weeks camp for about 100 athletes and government will be responsible for their welfare,” he said.