By Harry Awurumibe

A week to the much-awaited Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) election into its Executive Board slated for September 30 in Benin City, frontrunner in the race for the President of the federation, Dr. Christian Emeruwa has continued his nationwide consultation with critical stakeholders in football in Nigeria.

Dr. Emeruwa who seems to be the only presidential candidate running for the exalted office has for the past 15 days been engaging the NFF Delegates to the Elective Congress in Benin City, just as he has held several media sessions with the sporting press.

Specifically, the astute football administrator and Founder/Head of Security and Safety Department of Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) who was the first person to indicate his interest in the NFF Presidency and the first aspirant to buy the form has held Consultative Meetings with NFF Zonal Delegates across the six geopolitical zones except South South Caucus meeting which hold this weekend.

The former Head of Integrity Unit of NFF has successfully held meetings with the North Central, North West and North East Caucus of NFF just as he also met with South East and South West NFF Delegates.

Worthy of mentioning is the facts that 95% of State Football Associations Chairmen attended the meetings where Dr. Emeruwa presented his strategic plans to create a viable football economy that will benefit Nigeria football stakeholders if voted into the office in Benin City.

Aside holding meetings with FA Chairmen, the most visible candidate out of the 11 cleared by the NFF Electoral Committee first met with the vibrant Nigerian sporting press when he hosted the Sports Editors at Sheraton Hotels Ikeja in Lagos where he laid bare his plans to overhaul the entire gamut of Nigeria football administration and organisation of the various leagues.

Also, Dr. Emeruwa has held strategic meetings with other critical stakeholders in football as he has extracted commitments from the multinational oil company TotalEnergies Plc after paying a courtesy visit to the. Managing Director Dr. Samba Seye in Lagos.

The energetic presidential candidate has also become a toast of the media as he has made several appearances on national and international television stations, radio and newspapers houses to sell his plans to create a viable football economy that will benefit stakeholders if voted into the office.

Meanwhile, Dr. Emeruwa on Thursday attended NFF Presidential Debate organised by the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chapter for the 11 persons cleared to contest for the September 30 presidential election.

Sadly, Dr. Emeruwa and current FCT Football Association, Chairman Mohammed Mouktar were the two contestants out of 11 who attended the debate which took place at Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT Secretariat at Utako, Abuja.

Nine other candidates for the NFF top post did not attend the debate, although details of why they failed to show up could not be obtained as at the time of this report.

The 2021/2022 Nigeria Women’s Super 6 ended on Sunday in Benin, the Edo state Capital, leaving in it’s wake, memories and stories, history and testimonies, dreams and realities.

Six of the very best women football teams in the land converged on a city endowed with beauty and bliss, a land blessed with human and material resources and a people that are friendly to visitors and nice to foreigners.

For one week, women football took center stage, six teams came from the north, the south and the west, desperate to impress and determined to take with them the giant trophy that comes with a mouth watering cash prize.

For the first time in many years, a company took the bold step, they put their money where their mouth is and at the end, they are the biggest winners after one week of exhilarating and mind-blowing football.

Tulcan Energy, has become a slogan associated with women’s football. For everyone present in Edo state and those watching online, the exposure, the branding and the publicity was more than massive. By this singular involvement, Tulcan Energy has again emphasized the fact that, they are a company that is fully dedicated to improving lives and satisfying the youths through their initiative to partner NWFL

The Chief Executive Officer of Tulcan Energy, Tayo Adiatu could not hold back the excitement during the medals presentation ceremony as he glittered in his smiles and blossomed in his laughter. He enjoyed every moment of a first experience with women’s football and he is already looking forward to bigger and better relationship with the NWFL.

In all it’s glory, the chairperson of the NWFL and board member of the Nigeria football federation, Aisha Falode acknowledged this goodwill in all humility and thanked the sponsors, the supporters, the promoters and the media for their unflinching support. She sees this as the tonic needed to propel women’s football to the next level.

Bayelsa Queens started and ended the tournament as the team on a mission. So it was not a surprise to many when the Yenagoa girls defeated Nasarawa Amazon’s in Sunday’s final to win the 2021/2022 NWFL Super 6.

Nigeria football federation NFF, president Amaju Pinnick was represented at the closing ceremony by two respected board members in Ibrahim Gusau, FA Chairman of Zamfara state and chairman of chairmen in the the NFF executive committee and Kano state FA chairman, Shaif Inuwa Ahlan who also graced the occasion in his capacity as chairman of the referees.appointment committee. Both men congratulated Falode and her board for a job well done.

Beyond the glamor and the excitements on the pitch, the legacies of this year’s event will not be complete without mentioning the many discoveries. The emerging stars and the future world beaters. They were too many to remember.

However, Bayelsa Queens Monday Gift stood out as her twelve goals earned her the most Valuable player and highest goal scorer of a competition that offered so much and left out nothing in terms of beauty, passion, glamor, entertainment and class.

At a Life and Chess Club tournament/award event that took place at the Edo Innovative Hub in Benin City on Wednesday, April 6, which attracted top chess players from across the state, the dynamic and vast sports journalist was alongside the Technical Director of the Nigeria Chess Federation, Mr Eugene Akhiwu and the Edo Broadcasting Service honoured.

Ayoola Adeleke who was away on an NWFL Premiership football match coverage in Osun State bagged the “Award of Excellence for his exceptional contribution to the development of sports in Edo State in commemoration of the International Day of Sport for Peace and Development”, with his representative, a burgeoning sports journalist, Jokanola Bolaji on the ground to pick up the award.

‘Mansa RSS’ as fondly called, through his representative thanked the organisers of the event for the recognition which he least expected and promised to continue supporting the development of sports in Edo as the state’s major agenda is set at repositioning the state to its position as the Number 1 in the country.

” I am highly elated for this award, my first in Edo State and I want to say a big thank you to the giver (Life and Chess Club). It’s a privilege to be recognised.”

The CAF and FIFA accredited journalist, while dedicating the award to his followers also noted that the award will spur him into putting in his best to ensure sports development.

“This is motivational; going forward, this prestigious award will serve as a motivation and boost for me to do more in continued efforts to reposition sports in the state, in my little way.”

“I will continue to put in my best in building sports in this state from grassroots level to the topmost level. Thank you very much once again”

The Platinum News publisher, an erudite sports journalist with over a decade of experience has now added another to his awards cabinet.

The highly rated Sports administrator was joined by other top personals to give out the customised match balls to all 8 teams that participated at the Football event of the National Sports Festival.

Amos Adamu who was one time Director General of the National Sports Commission was thrilled that a Nigerian Clubside can think of having their own customised match balls, stressing that it is the right step to move the club to greater heights.

Receiving the match balls on behalf of Team Edo, Captain of the side and Deputy Governor of Edo State, Comrade Phillip Shuabu thanked the management of the team for reaching out to all the teams that participated at the Football Event of the National Sports Festival, saying other clubs in Nigeria should emulate the NWFL Championship side, by going into selling of merchandise that will bring in profits.

Barrister Paul Edeh, President of Naija Ratels FC who was represented by Coach Bankole Oloowokere said it was a pleasure to give out the match balls to the football participating teams, stating that football is the sports played most consistently in the world.

“Football is loved by all, that’s one of the reasons we decided to give our customised match balls to all Football participating teams in the National Sports Festival.

“The Naija Ratels customised ball is strong, iconic and reflects the values of the Clubside as we are planning of building a big fan base across all quarters.

Naija Ratels is an NWFL Championship side, based in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and is owned by Legal Luminary, Barrister Paul Edeh.

The Main organizing committee of the National Sports Festival in Edo State has disqualified Dino Ebarakumo, thereby stripping him off the medals he has won so far.

Ebarakumo according to reports registered for team Rivers heading into the festival, but eventually, fraudulently turned up for team Bayelsa without a proper clearance by the MOC.

With the development, the organizers say the four gold and two silver medals he has so far won have been cancelled.

Meanwhile, there are insinuations from different quarters that team Bayelsa has other athletes it poached right at the venue without proper documentation.

It remains to be seen if more of Team Bayelsa athletes will suffer the same fate in the next couple of days

Leadership isn’t all about position or ranking, neither is it a title. Instead, it is the ability to serve the purpose for which the position is given.

The Honorable Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Chief Sunday Dare has been an exemplary leader right from his first day in office as a serving Minister of the federal republic of Nigeria.

No wonder the managerial and supervisory skills are greatly evident in his ability to manage all issues around the on ongoing 20th National Sports Festival, in Edo State.

The Honourable Minister, has since visited all venues hosting various games at the festival and many say, his presense is a big motivation for participants at the games.

So far, he has visited almost all the game centres which includes, the Samuel Ogbemuda stadium where the Opening ceremony took place. Others are the Oba Akenzua cultural centre, Indoor sports hall University of Benin, Adolor college, Idia college all in Benin city to watch various sporting events and to also encourage the athletes.

As a top sports advocate, he already has in his head a road map and set out plans for Nigeria wining medals at the forthcoming Tokyo Olympics as he keeps motivating athletes with medal prospects to put in their very best and make sure they set new festival or national records that will put them in good shape ahead of the games.

It is evident that Chief Sunday Dare is a selfless leader whose interests and intentions are to ensure youth and sports is taken to the next level in the country.

This much he has demonstrated with the organization of the recent Unity cup in Oyo state, the revived Principal Cup and now the National Sports festival.

In youth development, he is also putting in place various digital trainings and initiatives to empower Nigerian youths.

Grace Ayemoba showed class this Friday evening while competing in the 100 meters female event at the ongoing 2020 National Sports Festival in Edo State.

Participating in her fifth National Sports Festival, Ayemoba edged athletes from other states to emerge victorious.

Prior to the Festival, she had won two gold and three silver medals in past events and she promised to ink Rivers state’s name in Gold at this edition.

She won gold in the 2011 event in hurdles and heptathlon, and after winning gold today, she said her plan is to catapult herself to the top an become one of the best athletes in Nigeria.

Ayemoba appreciated the Rivers state government for the unwavering support she and other Athletes are getting to have a good outing at the National Sports Festival.

Event will continue on Saturday and team Rivers will hope to continue having a fine run.

Nsikak Etim Solomon added to the medal haul of team Rivers today at the ongoing National Sports Festival in Edo State after winning a gold in scrabble.

Nsikak Etim Solomon defeated favourite and first African to be crowned World scrabble champion Jighere Wellington to the top podium prize in the Masters singles event.

Wellington who is representing team Delta settled for Silver, while George Ezinore of Edo State won bronze.

In the female singles, team Delta’s Tuoyo Mayuku won the gold, while Sule Success and Bukunmi Afolayan of Edo and Ogun State in that order won Silver and bronze.

Delta also dominated the open singles category with Godsfavour Whiskey beating Sunday Ituah (Lagos) and Itiemo Brigeni (Bayelsa) to the Gold medal.

Events continue at the multi sports festival after the Edo State government and the Federal ministry of sports reached an agreement to continue with the event.

There were initial plans to bring the festival to an end by the Local organizing committe after the federal government was not forthcoming with the funds it promised to support the event.

Speaking in Benin on Thursday the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development Mr. Nebeolisa Anako said:
“Following the news making the rounds that the Edo State Government will shut down the National sports Festival if the Federal Government support does not come through.

The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development is the Organiser of the National Sports festival while the Edo State Government is the host. I wish to announce that the Athletes are in their various game villages and games are ongoing following the intervention of the Presidency assuring that the financial support to the Edo State Government is in it final processing stage.

“The games are not under threat. There was an Information gap earlier but as we speak, the games are ongoing and we assure you there won’t be any closure till the closing of the National Sports Festival” The Permanent Secretary of Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development; Mr. Nebeolisa Anako concluded.

Signed

Media office of the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development

The President of Nigeria Volleyball Federation, Engineer Musa Nimrod has commended Sports Minister, Sunday Dare for his passion for sports development.

Nimrod stated this when the sports minister paid an unscheduled visit to the volleyball centre during the 2020 National Sports Festival in Benin, Edo state.

Nimrod said the festival has created an avenue for upcoming and established athletes to showcase their talents after a year of inactive sporting activities.

He said, “The Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare has brought new innovation into the sports sector of the country. You can see that most abandoned programs have been revived and sports is developing rapidly.

“If you look at the records in the festival, they are made by young upcoming athletes. Most athletes are hungry for competition because 2020 season was ruined by COVID-19. The National Sports Festival has created an avenue for every athletes including the experienced ones to prove their worth.

The Chairman Nigeria Beach Volleyball Commission lauded the facilities and equipment put in place by Edo state government.

“In the area of facilities and equipment, I give Edo state 100 percent because they rehabilitated most of them and others were newly built. Governor Godwin Obaseki has done well in this aspect and we must praise him for that”.

He appealed to athletes participating in the National Sports Festival to shun violence and embrace peace.