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Tag: Sunday Dare

  • Amputee footballers to FG: Pay our allowances

    Amputee footballers to FG: Pay our allowances

    Sarafadeen Olalekan, the Captain, Amputee Football Team, ‘’Special Eagles’’, has appealed to the Minister for Youths and Sports, Sunday Dare, to ensure the payment of the team’s allowances.

    Olalekan told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos that many of the team members were facing a lot of financial challenges because of unpaid allowances.

    “Other federations have received their allowances but for the Special Eagles, we are yet to receive ours before the pandemic lockdown.

    “Up till this very moment, there has not been anything and it is already a year plus now that we went to Angola and came second, life has not been easy for most of the amputee footballers.

    “Most of the players are out of their homes due to issue of money they owe their landlords and their sources of making a living was disrupted by the pandemic and protest,” he said.

    According to Olalekan, one of the team member who had just nationalised as a Nigeria was part of the country’s success story “but he currently sleeps under the bridge.

    “We have a Ghanaian who had just nationalised to Nigeria, he played for us till we got to the finals but has been finding life really difficult.

    “He was asked to move out of the National Stadium where he resides so he had to start his life under the bridge.

    “During the pandemic we did not receive any palliative at all, and most of the players have their own family that they are taking care of. I hope our plea would be attended to and our allowances are paid,” the amputee player said.

    Austin Ugwu, the Assistant Captain, urged the Federal Government to place the amputee team members on monthly allowances.

    He added that the allowance would go a long way in helping the players take care of themselves and stay in shape to perform for the country.

    “I would appreciate if the government can consider us and place us on monthly allowances.

    “Since the last championship we went for, we have not received anything from the government.

    “This has affected a lot of the players, we are supposed to be in shape always but with the situation of things we are only working to survive,” he said.

    Ugwu further said that some players had not been able to do anything because of the allowances that were yet to be paid.

    “I have a tricycle that am running , that is why I can take care of myself a little, but for some others they do not have what they are doing.

    “Some of the players feed from hand-to-mouth, they do not have anything doing. We are not like the able bodies.”

    The Acting Technical Director, National Amputee Football Federation (NAFF), Pius Asaba, said that the federation was yet to receive any funds from the ministry.

    He pleaded with the ministry to ensure that the federation gets the funds so that they could pay the players.

    “They have been promising us that we will be paid and I am aware that the federation is also doing its best to ensure it gets paid.

    “The pandemic and protest has paralyze all our activities, we are supposed to go for a competition in Poland but it has been postpone, so for now we do not know exactly what will happen.

    “The government has not paid the federation any money for now including the player’s allowance.

    “That is why we are appealing to the government to pay for all of our activities and for the laurel we brought to the country,’’ he said.

    Asaba also said that the players were owed from the last championship that was attended to in Angola.

    “The federation is helpless now and the amputee team is performing well in Africa but the federation is not well taken care of’’, he said.

    NAN reports that Angola hosted the 5th edition of Federation of Africa for Amputee Football (FAAF)- organised CANAF tournament. Seven nations participated in the tournament held from Oct. 1 to Oct. 12, 2019 in Luanda, where Nigeria won silver.

  • #EndSARS protest: Why we didn’t shut down social media – Minister

    #EndSARS protest: Why we didn’t shut down social media – Minister

    The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare has given reasons why the federal government did not shut down the social media during the #EndSARS protest.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Dare was speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily when he said the government had the option of shutting down the social media space in Nigeria during the #EndSARS protests but chose not.

    Stressing that other countries had taken certain measures to exercise some levels of restraint over the cyberspace but that Nigeria was yet to do so, Dare said the government observed restraint to allow freedom of expression.

    “The issue of fake news is bothersome for the government and the protests brought home the dangers of fake news. The talk around regulation, of course, we have a National Assembly, it will have to go through the normal process.

    “We have a constitution, we have to make sure it does not violate certain provisions of the constitution that has to do with freedom of expression.

    “Where you have fake news destroying lives, the government has a responsibility to make sure that there is a level of control. It is not censorship but some level of control,” the minister said.

    Mr Dare said the internet and social media have tremendous benefits but that as a country, we must start to think of how to curtail fake news.

    “There must be some level of responsibility and some level of punishment to those that will create chaos out of mischief in our country,” he said.

    He noted the fact that the Nigerian youths used social media to drive the recent # EndSARS protests against police brutality saying while that was commendable, the cyberspace must be regulated.

    The minister added, “The fact that our youths used it to mobilise is commendable. But the talk about the regulation of the social media has been around for a while.

    “We’ve seen other countries taking practical steps in that direction, this country has not done that. Even during the # EndSARS protests, the country had an option (but) the country never went for that final option.

    “There was no time the cyberspace was shut down, people were still able to connect themselves through the various social media platforms. And that shows a government that is committed to the rights of freedom and association of every citizen of this country”.

  • Your time has come, Buhari’s minister assures Nigerian youths

    Your time has come, Buhari’s minister assures Nigerian youths

    The Minister of Youth and Sport Development, Mr Sunday Dare has appealed to the youth to embrace dialogue in order to move the country forward.

    Dare said this on Sunday in Abuja at the maiden edition of the National Youth Day celebration with the theme ” Invest in the Youth, Secure Our Future”.

    He said that with what the country had witnessed in the past three weeks, there could be no better time than now to celebrate the youth and validate their contributions to national economic development.

    According to him, the celebration is an opportunity to reflect, take stock and chart a new youth action plan that will tackle headlong the issues that confront our teeming youth population.

    “Let me start with a direct reference to the new focus and youth vision of the African Development Bank (AfDB) led by Dr. Akinwumi Adesina.

    “That the establishment of Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Banks will help to fully unleash youth potential through technology and entrepreneurship.

    “This assertion made in September 2020, first validates the strength of our youth and secondly demands from government and the private sector direct investments in the youth population with a de-risking mentality.

    “We will return to dissect this momentarily,” Dare said.

    According to him, many of the youth can achieve a lot but for lack of opportunities, education that is not suitable for the jobs available, a huge unemployment popular market occasioned by a struggling and sluggish economy,

    Others he said were lack of relevant skills, lack of credit and access to finance for youth enterprises and businesses, low investment from the public and private sector,” he said.

    Dare said it was time to change the trajectory to one that was capable of lifting millions of youth out of unemployment, under employment, frustration with the system, dearth of opportunities and stunted growth.

    “The dreams and careers of our youth must receive a new burst of energy and renewed hope so that as a country our future can be secured,”’ he said.

    Dare said the theme was apt as it wouldp enable the country to invest more and deliberately in the innovative minds, skills, talents and enterprise of the youth.

    He said it would equip them with needed and relevant technical, digital skills and also make them wealth creators, self starters, employers of labour and leaders in their own right.

    “Globally, there is a paradign shift from merely empowering the youth to directly investing in them,” Dare said.

    He said the president, African Developement Bank, Dr Akinwumi Adesina challenged governments and the private sector to shift focus from youth empowerment to youth investments.

    Dare said that without investments in the youth today, there would be no returns either now or in the future.

    “Adesina did not stop there, he wanted the establishment of youth Enterprenuership and investment banks that can cater for and provide funds for enterprenuers,” he said.

    “A bank you can walk into where they see assets not liabilities, where they have faith and confidence in young people,”. he quoted Adesina as saying.

    He said that the country was blessed, and saddled with a bulging youth population that could turn out to be the country’s greatest resource if Nigeria made the right investments and in a timely manner.

    Dare said that President Muhammadu Buhari since the inception of his administration had never taken his eyes off the ball when it comes to youth developmental issues.

    According to him, the president believes when the youth are given to hard work, they should also be provided with opportunities.

    Dare said the government had initiated a slew of multifaceted youth focused programmes that were cross cutting.

    “Wherever a youth group is found, these programmes target them. Indeed, in July 22, the president and council approved the establishment of the Nigeria Youth Investment Fund, (NYIF).

    “It was a culmination of all efforts geared at giving our youth access to funds needed for enterprise.

    “The president, through the NYIF demonstrated that Nigeria was in sync and agreement with the new thinking in youth development and that sees investing in the youth as a condition to unleash their potential,” he said.

    According to him, the NYIF has been over subscribed for the 2020 half year funding provided for. More than one million applications have been received with more expected to come.

    Dare said that with the protests took place across the country, Nigeria was taking measures to change the narrative by investing in youth development.

    He said that change has begun and that what was needed was to deepen the youth initiatives and accelerate the onboarding of beneficiaries in a transparent and effectual manner.

    Dare said that Nigeria must license a new tribe of youth investment banks with single digit loans dedicated to our youth.

    “Through the NYIF, the Federal Government has set the tone and leading the way,” he said.

    Dare said during the celebration 10 winners of the 60-day APP challenge competition and five young innovators in different fields received #12.5 million.

    He said that Buhari had faith in the youth and was committed to his meeting the demands of the protesting youth.

    Dare said Buhari was convinced that the acts of brutality against the youth and the larger Nigerian population needed to be addressed.

    He said that the president had activated all necessary levels of government to deal with the demands of the youth.

    “These protests had earned the youth a well-deserved place at the table. So, take your seat in order to continue the progress and reform you have called for.

    “From the protest, it is time for the next phase which is dialogue, ldentify trusted leaders and have them come forward.

    “Any movement without leaders becomes rudderless and susceptible to being hijacked by people with agenda inimical to the very reasons behind the protests.

    “The youth have a unique opportunity to help write a new chapter in our journey to a more compassionate and benign society and a greater nation.

    “Don’t let this historic chance pass through your hands. You deserve this moment, as does the nation we love,” he said.

  • Buhari will speak on Lekki shootings when he get facts right-Dare

    Buhari will speak on Lekki shootings when he get facts right-Dare

    The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare has revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari , will speak to Nigerians on the Lekki shootings when he has all the facts on the tragic occurrence.

    Dare made this known on Friday while speaking on Arise TV .

    TheNewsGuru recalls that Buhari addressed the nation on Thursday but has since been intensely criticized by Nigerians for not mentioning the occurrence in his speech.

    Dare said the President had ordered an investigation into the Tuesday night incident at the Lekki toll gate.

    When asked about the Lekki shootings occurrence, the minister said, “For sure, the President has ordered for an investigation. He had a National Security Meeting yesterday (Friday). I can tell you that this is ongoing already.

    “The President wants to have the facts and that is going to be made public.

    “It is going to be difficult to hide all these facts because we live in a multimedia world and we have evidence, collaborations, and all of that, and I think it is important to get the facts right.

    “That is the path that the President has toed and I am sure that when these facts are made available, this President because he has integrity, will level with the Nigerian people about what happened on Tuesday in Lekki.”

  • #ENDSARS killing: Fresh bloodshed in Ogbomosho as DSS injure several youths, saved Buhari’s minister, Soun from attack

    #ENDSARS killing: Fresh bloodshed in Ogbomosho as DSS injure several youths, saved Buhari’s minister, Soun from attack

    Nigeria’s Sports Minister Sunday Dare, the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Oladunni Oyewumi, and other chiefs on Sunday scampered for safety as irate youths invade Ogbomosho palace.

    Reports reaching TheNewsGuru (TNG) indicate that four persons who are yet to be identified sustained gunshot wounds during the ugly incident.

    Meanwhile, the minister in a tweet said the Ogbomoso-Hoodlums and thugs disrupted a stakeholder meeting in Soun’s palace stoning and breaking doors, glasses.

    Sunday Dare’s words: “The hoodlums broke into the palace and destroyed chairs, overturned tables, broke windows,” Dare tweeted.

    “These were not Youth or Students. These were miscreants and thugs who saw a window of opportunity in the protest which since abated,” he added.
    The minister said a combined team of operation Burst from Ibadan and a unit from Iliorin are now on the ground in Ogbomoso to help keep the peace, protect the peaceful and innocent, and also stop criminal elements.

    Tension has since risen in Ogbomosho since a bystander was shot and killed in Ogbomoso on Saturday by the policemen dispersing #EndSARS protesters.

    It was unclear if Jimoh Isiaka was among the young Nigerians protesting against police brutality before he was shot. He was rushed to Bowen University Teaching Hospital where he died while receiving treatment.

    But pictures shared on Twitter showed him standing by the roadside, many metres away from the policemen. He was unarmed.

    His bloodied corpse has since been buried.

  • 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.

  • Babalade’s death, a huge loss to Nigerian football – Minister

    Babalade’s death, a huge loss to Nigerian football – Minister

    Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare has described the death of former Super Eagles defender , AJibadea Babalade as a huge loss not only to his family, but to the entire Nigerian football fraternity.

    The minister gave his condolence in a statement signed by Mr John Joshua-Akanji,his Special Adviser (Media), on Sunday in Abuja.

    He said he was shocked and saddened by the news of the demise of the former 3SC defender.

    “I received with shock and sadness in my heart the news of the death of one of Nigeria’s most hardworking and dedicated players, Ajibade Babalade, who served the country and his profession well.

    “He played such a prominent role in his active playing days.

    “He was a nightmare to attackers and a Trojan in the heart of the Eagles defence. So sad that he died shortly after the death of another national team player.

    “My thoughts and prayers are with his family and the entire football family. May God grant him eternal peace and console his family, ” the minister said.

    Kunde, as he was popularly called in his playing days, died on Friday at a hospital after a brief illness.

    He was a member of the bronze winning Super Eagles team at the 1992 Nations Cup in Senegal.

    Babalade played for 3SC FC of Ibadan, Stationery Stores FC of Lagos, Iwuayanwun Nationale FC of Owerri, Africa Sports of Cote de’ Ivoire, Strum Graz of Austria among other clubs.
    He was aged 48.

  • FG opens up on resumption of Nigerian domestic league

    FG opens up on resumption of Nigerian domestic league

    The federal government has assured that all steps for the resumption of the Nigerian domestic league were being taken and warned that the league would not resume until basic conditions were met.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare made this known in a statement released on Sunday in Abuja by Mr Gabriel Aduda, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry.

    Dare commended President Muhammadu Buhari, and the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 for reopening the NYSC Orientation Camps for the sake of youths in the country and stressed that all COVID-19 protocols must be fully observed as sporting activities resume across the country behind closed doors.

    Recall that the National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19, Sani Aliyu had on Thursday announced the reopening of sports without fans under the close supervision of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and the National Agency for Disease Control (NADC).

    “We are happy that our athletes can now return to action and do what they know how best to do and our youths can return to the NYSC orientation camps.

    “The last few months have been very tough for our athletes as well as the ministry,” he said.

    He said the ministry would ensure full compliance with all necessary protocols and tests before giving approval for resumption of sporting activities including football matches.

    Dare added that approval must be sought before any game was played while all protocols must be put in place and guidelines obeyed as directed by PTF and NCDC.

    “The ministry has set up a COVID-19 monitoring and approval team for every sport engagement and event,” he added.

    The minister assured that all steps for the resumption of the Nigerian domestic league were being taken and warned that the league would not resume until basic conditions were met.

    “The domestic league will not commence until the regulations and controls in the aspect of financial and licensing control are put in place.

    “The NFF must put clubs on notice and enforce these regulations and controls as stipulated, otherwise the Nigerian Professional and Amateur Leagues would not be approved for resumption,” he said.

    The minister had earlier directed the NFF to communicate with the clubs that the needed to comply fully with financial controls and regulation as stipulated in the rule book before a date can be fixed for the resumption of the league.

  • FG announces plans to resuscitate Awolowo stadium

    FG announces plans to resuscitate Awolowo stadium

    Mr Sunday Dare, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, says plans are underway to resuscitate the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium in Ibadan.

    Dare said this in Ibadan while speaking with newsmen on the sidelines of his visit to the palace of the Olubadan.

    The minister said that the Federal Government was considering partnership with the state government or outright concession of the stadium.

    He said that the stadium would bounce back to life as soon as any of the options was implemented.

    “I met a plan on ground, there is an approval to concession Federal Government-owned stadiums starting with Abuja and the one in Surulere, Lagos.

    “I agree that concession is the best option, the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium is the oldest stadium in Africa, and the oldest in Nigeria.

    “ We have another option which is to work with the Oyo State government, we can cede the stadium to them if we have a commitment that they will bring it to standard,” he said.

    Dare said that the Federal Government was vigorously pursuing both options, adding that it would implement the one that would best serve the interest of the people.

    “The governor has called me twice, showing the state government’s interest to work with us in bringing the facility up to standard.

    “This conversation is ongoing; we shall reach a conclusion and whatever the decision is will be conveyed to the public,” he said.

  • Minister releases update on N75 billion youth investment fund

    Minister releases update on N75 billion youth investment fund

    The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare has released an update on what Nigerians should know about the N75 billion Nigeria Youth Investment Fund (NYIF).

    Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari recently led the Federal Executive Council to approve the establishment of the N75 billion NYIF, with the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development as the lead ministry working with the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, the Central Bank and other relevant MDAS in the implementation of the NYIF.

    Here are what you should know about the N75 billion NYIF

    • The Nigeria Youth Investment Fund, NYIF, is a N75 billion Fund by the Nigerian government.

    • The NYIF is dedicated to investing in the innovative ideas, skills, talents and enterprise of the Nigerian Youth and aimed at turning them into Entrepreneurs, Wealth creators and employers of labour contributing to national development.

    • NYIF is a ring-fenced find that will provide a minimum of N25 billion each year for the next 3 years 20202024 totaling 75 Million.

    • The Nigerian Youth Investment Fund (NYIF) a ring fenced funding that will strictly cater to the invest ment needs of persons between the ages of 18 and 35 years old.

    • NYIF is Part of the Federal Government National Plan to combat youth unemployment and drive innovation, fuel entrepreneurship as well as support youth MSMES.

    • NYIF is designed to provide a less cumbersome access to credit and finance for the average Nigerian youth and birth a whole generation of entrepreneurs.

    The fund aims to reach 500,000 youth annually be tween 2020 and 2024. Each fund approval will range from N250,000 to N 50000000

    • Disbursement will be through various channels, which will include Micro Credit Organizations across the country under the Central Bank of Nigeria supported by BOI, Fintech Organizations and Venture Capital Or organizations, registered with the CBN.