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Tag: Uyo

  • EFCC nabs 5 suspected illegal miners in Uyo

    EFCC nabs 5 suspected illegal miners in Uyo

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)  has arrested five suspected illegal miners involved in the extraction and transportation of ilmenite, locally called ‘black sand’ without the requisite licence in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.

    EFCC Spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

    Oyewale said that the arrest followed weeks of surveillance along the coastal lines of Mkpanak, at Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom.

    According to him, the suspects are Samuel Eshiet Akwa, Willie Peter Uboko,  Muhammed Tukur, Salmannu Ibrahim  and Jaafar Adam.

    He explained that as at the time of their arrest, the suspects were conveying 1,200 bags of Ilmenite in a truck without authorisation.

    “All they had was a waybill indicating that the consignment belonged to a certain WillJane Global Ventures Ltd.

    ”Preliminary investigations into the matter showed that the said company, WillJane Global Ventures Ltd, is owned by one of the suspects,  Willie Peter Uboko.

    “He was alleged to have been operating without a mining licence for the past four years and transporting Ilmenite to unidentified destinations,” he said.

    He said that during questioning, the suspect confessed that they were on their way to Onne in Port Harcourt, Rivers State to make a delivery when they were arrested.

    He said that the suspects were making useful statements and would be charged to court as soon as investigations were concluded.

  • Uyo to host marketing conference

    Uyo to host marketing conference

    By Ani Essienette

    The National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria, NIMN, has announced Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, as the host city of its 2025 Annual Marketing Conference.

    The town will also host the Institute’s Annual General Meeting, during the conference taking place from June 19 to June 21, 2025.

    A statement from the body said the choice of Uyo as the host city signals a “renewed commitment by the Institute to decentralize professional engagement, spotlight regional excellence, and elevate conversations around sustainable marketing practices across Nigeria.”

    The conference, with the theme “Leveraging ESG in Driving Value Across Generations” is expected to bring together top marketing professionals, executive, policymakers, students, academia, and business leaders from across the country and beyond.

    Delegates will engage in thought-provoking sessions, panel discussion, and networkingevents, focused on integrating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles into brandleadership, strategy, innovation and business decisions, according to the statement.

    Highlights of the conference will include a Marketing symposium on the theme “SustainableMarketing: The Future of Brand Leadership,” a Fellowship Dinner, elections and other sideattractions like city tours, Cultural Exhibitions and Cullinary experience of Akwa Ibom’s finest Delicacies.

    Speaking on the upcoming conference, Mr. Idoreyen Enang, FNIMN, President and Chairmanof council, stated that the “AMC 2025 will be a convergent point for thought leaders and marketingprofessionals to engage in thought-provoking dialogues that will elevate the Marketing profession.

    “It will also spotlight Akwa Ibom as a destination for business, culture, and tourism. We are excited to welcome marketers from across Nigeria to experience our hospitality, engagein forward-thinking discussions, and build meaningful networks.”

    The National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria, the apex regulatory body for the practice of marketing in Nigeria. Charted by Act 25 of 2003, is dedicated to promoting marketing excellence through education, professional development, and ethical standards.

  • 2025 AFCON: Super Eagles camp open for Benin, Rwanda matches Sept 1 in Uyo

    2025 AFCON: Super Eagles camp open for Benin, Rwanda matches Sept 1 in Uyo

    Nigeria’s Super Eagles are preparing for their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, with plans to open their training camp in Uyo on September 1.

     

    According to team officials speaking to Soccernet.ng, the backroom staff will arrive in Uyo on September 1, with most of the invited players expected to join shortly afterward.

     

    The three-time African champions are set to face the Cheetahs of Benin Republic at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on September 7 before traveling to Rwanda three days later for their second qualifier.

     

    However, the Super Eagles are currently without a head coach following Finidi George’s departure in June. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has yet to appoint a new coach, creating uncertainty as the qualifiers approach.

     

    Reports suggest that Austin Eguavoen, the NFF’s technical director, will temporarily manage the team for these two matches.

     

    Meanwhile, the NFF is considering long-term coaching options, with former Sweden coach Janne Andersson and Hervé Renard, a seasoned figure in African football, among the candidates being considered for the role.

     

    Renard brings extensive experience, having successfully managed teams like Zambia, Angola, Ivory Coast, and Morocco.

     

    Having reached the final of the last AFCON, where they narrowly lost to Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria is once again a strong contender to qualify for the tournament in Morocco.

  • CAF CC: Rangers storm Uyo for Zilimadjou clash

    CAF CC: Rangers storm Uyo for Zilimadjou clash

    A strong delegation of 26 players, including coaches, backroom staff, and top management officials from Rangers International of Enugu, has safely arrived in Uyo for the first leg of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League 2024/2025 preliminary round fixture against U.S. Zilimadjou of Comoros Islands, who are hosting their home game in Nigeria.

     

    The team, led by double award-winning Coach of the Season Fidelis Ilechukwu, is eager to represent the club and Nigeria in their return to continental football after four seasons.

    The players have been undergoing an intense three-week training regime in Enugu under Coach Ilechukwu and his assistants, preparing to face the Comoros league champions who arrived in the country on Wednesday.

     

    Flying Antelopes’ captain, Ugwueze Chinemerem, expressed optimism about securing a good result ahead of the return leg, scheduled for Friday, August 23, at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo. “We respect our opponent but we shall do the needful, by God’s special grace, on the field of play. We have intensified our training since the preparation for the new season started and with the level of motivation in our team, we shall come out with a good result,” he said.

     

    Assistant captain and goalkeeper, Opubo Japhet, shared his confidence in the team’s ability to achieve a positive result on Sunday in Uyo. “I believe we have all it takes to get a good result on Sunday in Uyo.

    Though not much is known about our opponent, we give them their respect as the champions of Comoros but we have our game plans,” he stated.

  • Pomp, Pageantry as 10th Nigeria Pitch Awards ceremony set to hold in Uyo

    Pomp, Pageantry as 10th Nigeria Pitch Awards ceremony set to hold in Uyo

    There will be real pomp and pageantry in the city of Uyo on Saturday as the tenth edition of Nigeria Pitch Awards comes to town. The Ibom Hotel and Golf Resorts is the venue.

    Shina Phillips, chief organizer of the awards, said on Thursday that all is set for a ceremony that will be full of panache, glitz and glamour.

    “As I said a couple of weeks ago, we are leaving no stone unturned to ensure a memorable tenth edition of the awards. All is set, and we are in Uyo not only to put up a super-show, but to mobilize resources within our capacity to support the Super Eagles to victory in tomorrow’s match. As an organization, we will continue to genuinely appreciate the NFF, the Super Eagles, all our friends, enablers, affiliates and commercial partners, for their support over the past 10 years, and to promise that the values of transparency, integrity and credibility will never depart from the Nigeria Pitch Awards.”

    Nominees have been picked in all 18 award categories, with the winners to be unveiled on Saturday. The award categories include Goalkeeper of the Year, Defender of the Year, Midfielder of the Year, Striker of the Year, Queen of the Pitch, King of the Pitch, Sam Okwaraji Award, Football Pitch, Football-Friendly Governor, Corporate Sponsor, alongside several honours for media representatives.

    Goalkeeper of the Year: Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars); Amas Obasogie (Bendel Insurance); Ojo Olorunleke (Enyimba FC)

    Defender of the Year: Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC); Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce SK)

    Midfielder of the Year: Alhassan Yusuf (Royal Antwerp); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC)

     

    Striker of the Year: Robert Mizo (Bayelsa United); Victor Osimhen (Napoli SC); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen)

     

    Queen of the Pitch: Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico de Madrid Femenino); Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC); Asisat Oshoala (Bay FC)

     

    King of the Pitch: Victor Osimhen (Napoli SC); Emeka Obioma (Enyimba FC); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen)

     

    Team of the Year: Super Falcons; Enyimba FC; Remo Stars

     

    Coach of the Year: Daniel Ogunmodede (Remo Stars); Finidi George (Enyimba FC); Randy Waldrum (Super Falcons)

     

    Sam Okwaraji Award: Victor Osimhen (Napoli SC); Ahmed Musa; Kunle Soname (Proprietor, Remo Stars)

     

    State With The Best Grassroots Football Development Programme: Edo State; Delta State; Lagos State

     

    Football Pitch of the Year: Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos; Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne; Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo

     

    Football-Friendly Governor of the Year: His Excellency Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom State); His Excellency Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos State); His Excellency Godwin Obaseki (Edo State)

     

    Corporate Sponsor of Football: Bet9ja (Sport Betting); GTI (Financial Services); MTN (Telecom)

     

    Sportsmanship Award: Hon. Kunle Soname (Proprietor, Remo Stars); Victor Osimhen (Napoli SC); Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye (Chairman, NPFL Board)

     

    Football Journalist of the Year (Print): Christian Okpara (The Guardian); Charles Diya (New Telegraph); Johnny Edward (Punch Newspapers)

     

    Football Journalist of the Year (TV): Miyen Akiri (TVC); Mozez Praiz (SuperSport); Cecilia Omorogbe (Channels TV)

     

    Football Journalist of the Year (Radio): Olawale Adigun (Mainland FM); Yinka Oyedele (Brila 88.9 FM); Anthony Bekederemo (Brila 88.9 FM)

     

    Football Journalist of the Year (Online): Samuel Ahmadu (Savid News); Tobi Adepoju (Oganla Media); Kunle Solaja (sportsvillagesquare.com)

  • 2026 WCQ: Why South Africa took long trip to Uyo – NFF

    2026 WCQ: Why South Africa took long trip to Uyo – NFF

    The Nigeria Football Federation has insisted that the South African delegation has no reason to cry foul after having to stay the night in Port Harcourt on Wednesday after arriving in Nigeria. The team only flew into Uyo on Thursday morning.

    NFF’s Protocol chief, Emmanuel Ayanbunmi said the South African Football Association informed the NFF that its chartered aircraft would depart South Africa on Wednesday morning by 8am and land in Lagos to undergo immigration formalities before proceeding to Uyo.

    “The problem has nothing to do with the NFF. As at the time they said they were taking off, it took them a further five hours to actually depart from South Africa. We were not informed. We had informed officials of the Nigeria Immigration Service and other relevant agencies in Lagos to expedite action on the formalities for them.

    “It was less than two hours to landing that they contacted us to say that the landing right they got was for Port Harcourt International Airport and not the MMA in Lagos. We had to quickly get in touch with officials of NMS and other agencies in Port Harcourt and mobilize people to ensure smooth formalities for them. Having completed all immigration formalities, they wanted to take off for Uyo but were informed that the Obong Victor Attah Airport only operates from sunrise to sunset, and so that was not possible. The NFF immediately mobilized resources for them to comfortably spend the night in Port Harcourt.”

  • 2026 WCQ: Super Eagles camp swells to 20 as three more players arrive

    2026 WCQ: Super Eagles camp swells to 20 as three more players arrive

    The Super Eagles camp in Uyo has continued to bubble following the arrival of five more players.

    Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Frank Onyeka and Paul Onuachu joined today to swell the number to 20.

    The quintet’s arrival was delayed by the Nigeria Labour Congress strike.

    They will join their teammates in training later in the evening.

    Only three players, Alex Iwobi, Ademola Lookman and Maduka Okoye are still being expected in camp.

    The Super Eagles started preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin on Sunday.

    The clash with Bafana Bafana of South Africa will hold by 8pm at the Godswill Akpabio stadium in Uyo on Friday.

  • Stranded Super Eagles players arrive in Uyo

    Stranded Super Eagles players arrive in Uyo

    Ademola Olajire, Director of Communications, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), on Tuesday confirmed that the stranded Super Eagles players in Lagos and Abuja had arrived Uyo, capital of Akwa Ibom.

    Some of the Super Eagles players were said to have had challenges joining the rest of the team in camp, as a result of the joint NLC/TUC strike.

    The unions had shutdown the country’s airports on Monday, thus preventing  some Super Eagles players, who were supposed to connect flights to Uyo from Lagos and Abuja from flying.

    It was also reported by the NFF that only 15 players out of the 23 players trained in Uyo on Monday and returned to their camp at Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort.

    NFF said in a statement; “A total of 15 players trained on Monday morning in Uyo.

    “Head Coach Finidi George told the players afterwards that the three points at stake in Friday’s encounter must end up in Nigeria’s kitty.”

    The statement also said that the quintet of defenders Semi Ajayi, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Calvin Bassey, midfielder Frank Onyeka and forward Paul Onuachu were already in the country.

    “They are trying to make their way to Uyo to join the 15 other players already on ground for the Super Eagles’ preparations for Friday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match.”

    However, a check with Olajire revealed that the stranded players had arrived in Uyo.

    “They just landed in Uyo,” he said.

    Olajire, however, confirmed that Defenders Semi Ajayi, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Calvin Bassey, alongside Midfielder Frank Onyeka and Forward Paul Onuachu, had landed at the Victor Attah International Airport.

    “They landed in Uyo just after noon, aboard a private jet arranged by the NFF,  and were driven to Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort, to meet up with their team mates for lunch,” he said.

  • 2026 WCQ: 15 players in camp, Lookman, Maduka, Iwobi expected on Tuesday

    2026 WCQ: 15 players in camp, Lookman, Maduka, Iwobi expected on Tuesday

    The quintet of defenders Semi Ajayi, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Calvin Bassey, midfielder Frank Onyeka and forward Paul Onuachu are already in the country and trying to make their way to Uyo to join the 15 other players already on ground, as the Super Eagles’ preparations for Friday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana swing into new gear.

    A total of 15 players trained on Monday morning in Uyo, with Head Coach Finidi George telling the players afterwards that the three points at stake in Friday’s encounter must end up in Nigeria’s kitty.

    While the quintet (three in Abuja and two in Lagos) is being expected at the team’s Ibom Hotel and Resorts, the trio of midfielder Alex Iwobi, goalkeeper Maduka Okoye and forward Ademola Lookman are expected to arrive in the country on Tuesday.

    There was no training session on Monday evening, as the players get countenance intensive sessions on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, hopefully with a full house.

    The delegation of Bafana Bafana is expected to arrive in Nigeria on Wednesday, with the team already booked into Four Points By Sheraton Hotel in Ikot-Ekpene.

  • 2026 WCQ: Super Eagles camp bubbles as 13 players train on Sunday

    2026 WCQ: Super Eagles camp bubbles as 13 players train on Sunday

    13 Super Eagles players have hit training at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo as they intensified preparations for their double decker  2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Bafana Bafana of South Africa and the squirrels of Benin Republic.

    Wilfred Ndidi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Samuel Chukwueze, Fisayo Bashiru, Terem Moffi and Victor Boniface were among the players who took part in the training.

    New boys, Ismaila Sodiq and Kenneth Igboke, as well as Ojo Olorunleke, Stanley Nwabili, Benjamin Tanimu, Ibrahim Olawoyin and Raphael Onyedika, also participated in the session.

    Ademola Lookman and Maduka Okoye should join latest Tuesday as the Serie A season will be ending today, Sunday.

    Others not yet in camp are still being expected latest Tuesday.

    The Super Eagles play Bafana Bafana on Friday June 7th before proceeding to Abidjan for the cracker against the Squirrels of Benin Republic.