In keeping with the Olympic Charter which stipulates a 4 year tenure for all Sports Federations Boards following the expiration of the tenure of the National Olympic Sports Federations, the Minister of of Youth and sports Development Mr Sunday Dare has Dissolved the boards and constituted Caretaker Committees.

The Minister who was represented by the Director of Federation, Elites Athletes Department Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development Dr. Simon Ebhojaiye stated “Within the last 4 years, a few of the National Sports Federations Boards performed remarkably well, Having run a full Olympic cycle, the Boards of the NSFs inaugurated on 21 June, 2017 are hereby dissolved to pave way for fresh elections.”

In order to ensure continuity in the administration of the Federations, Caretaker Committees are hereby put in place to manage the affairs of the Federations until elections are conducted and the new Boards inaugurated”

Ebhojaiye further said “Mindful of the Olympic Games in July 2021, the Caretaker Committees will work assiduously towards enhancing team Nigeria participation at the Games. The Ministry in partnership with the NOC, will release in due course, the time-table for the elections into National Sports Federation Boards”

He encouraged all Nigerians with passion and interest for Sports to contribute selflessly to the development of Sports in Nigeria by indicating interest in the Membership of the various National Sports Federations.

The Caretaker Committees for the 31 National Sports Federations will run the affairs of the Federations until the inauguration of the new Boards.
The Aquatic Federation of Nigeria Caretaker committee is headed by Babatunde Fatai William’s, Olumide George Athletic Federation of Nigeria, Francis Orbih Badminton Federation of Nigeria, Eng. Musa Kida, Basketball Federation of Nigeria, Rtd General Joseph Ayeni, Nigeria Boxing Federation, DIG Sani Sani Mohammed Nigeria Chess Federation, Professor Yahaya Ukwanya Nigeria Cricket Federation, G Masari Cycling Federation of Nigeria, Abubakar Gaya Darts Federation of Nigeria, Alhaji U Nahuche Nigeria Deaf Sports Federation, Abubakar Dangaladima Fives Federation of Nigeria, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlolola Nigeria Golf Federation, Prince Kelvin Erhurnwunse, Gymnastic Federation of Nigeria.

Others are Samuel Ochecho Handball Federation of Nigeria, Senator Andul Ningi, Nigeria Hockey Federation, Brig Gen. Z L Abubakar, Nigeria Judo Federation, Sila Agara, Karate Federation of Nigeria, Yakubu Abubakar Kickboxing Federation of Nigeria, Arc. Adewunmi Adekunle, Nigeria Wushu Kungfu Federation, Rtd Rear Admiral Porbeni Festus, Nigeria Rowing, Canoeing and Yatching Federation, Comrade Iyorchia Grace Nigeria Rugby Federation, Suleman Gora Nigeria Scrabble Federation, Maj. General Johnny Hamakim,Nigeria Shooting Federation, Oyerinde Adeboye,Nigeria Squash Federation, Chief Tikon Ishayaku, Nigeria Table Tennis Federation, Mrs Margaret Binga,Nigeria Taekwondo Federation, Akindoju Olaoye Nigeria Tennis Federation, Usman Musa Traditional Sports Federation of Nigeria, Musa Nimrod, Nigeria Volleyball Federation, Tonobok Okowa,Nigeria Weightlifting Federation, Dr Daniel Igali,Nigeria Wrestling Federation.

Signed

Media office of the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development

The Headquarters Command Army Record (CAR) Lokoja, has launched a Nine-Hole Mini-Golf Course initiated by the immediate past CAR Commander, Major General Olufunmilola Soleye (rtd).

The CAR in collaboration with members of the Mini-golf club, organised a sent forth event in honour of Maj. Gen. Soleye, the founder and initiator of the club, as he retired from Nigerian Army after a meritorious 35 years of service to his mother land.

Speaking to journalists at the sent-forth program, Soleye noted that the idea of creating a golf course started when he newly reported in Lokoja as CAR Commander, because of the nature of the barracks’ environment particularly during the raining season.

According to him, it occurs to us that we have some natural obstacles here, and creating a 5-hole golf course was the idea.

”But due to the pressure from some friends and colleagues we decided to make it a 9-hole mini golf course, no matter how small, and that was why we named it a Mini-Golf Club.

”Though it is a very challenging course due to the trees and the various obstacles at the course but you would enjoy it better during the raining season.

”So we felt we should not allow a barren land that is good for golf to just waste away like that, and to also encourage the game of golf within and outside the barracks for young and the old people”, he said.

He stressed that golf was not just meant for the high class or the old, but for every one of any class, statue and gender, noting that since the inception of the golf course, friends from within and outside the barracks had been coming to play and registering with the club.

The former CAR Commander noted that the initial members was about seven but have now grown to over 20 members.

Gen. Soleye expressed his gratitude to the Almighty God and the Nigerian Army for the opportunities and guidance to attain professional rank of Maj. Gen in the Army.

He stressed that the essence of heading a place was to add value to the existing developmental drive, hence the reason for the facelift in the barracks in terms of the perimeter fencing, and creation of the CAR Mini-Golf course for recreational engagement of the Army and to have more golfers in the state.

He added: ”I never expected the sent-forth party since I had already handed over, but the CAR and the golf club felt since I was the founder and initiator of the club they deem it fit to host me in appreciation for the job well done”.

He, however assured that his successor, Maj. Gen. Gbolahan Oyefesobi, is a seasoned senior officer with vast experience and exposure, saying they had known each other for over 36 years.

He stressed that the new CAR Commander had always shown high level of competence anywhere he found himself.

Also speaking at the event, the Captain of the CAR Mini golf club, Lokoja, Mr. Paul Kouame described the out-gone Commander as highly intelligent and knowledgeable individual who had impacted so much on the lives of those he had worked with.

He commended the retired commander for creating the mini golf club, saying it would help to improve the health benefit of golfers.

According to Kouame, golf is one of those few games that one can play till the age of 120 years.

On sustainability and maintenance of the golf course, Kouame said that golf club were members expected to pay for registration and annual subscription, which would serve as revenue to be used for proper maintenance.

A Former board member of the Nigeria Golf Federation and consultant/Marketer for the 6th Kwara Open Tournament, Luqman Owolewa, said the event is primed to be one of the best in the history of staging the tournament.

He said this while speaking with the newsmen in Ilorin alongside the club’s captain, Chief Ray Okafor. 

“Ilorin has an unusual advantage as being a tourist’s preferred destination, and we have golfers from different states showing interest to take part since news filtered out that the government has given a go-ahead for the tournament to take place,”  he said.
According to him, this year’s edition, despite being a wholly amateur golfers affair, has been spiced up with prizes for the players, and virtually every golfer that tee-off at the Par 72 course will be rewarded for their play. 

“The players are expected to throng the course from Friday, Dec. 18, for an official practice round on the host course” Owolewa said. 

Owolewa revealed that the event is being sponsored by the Kwara State government; others include; Kwara Internal Revenue Service, Noktel Resort and Hotel, and OPAS Nigeria Limited as co-sponsors.

Captain of the club, Chief Ray Okafor, said the course is in good shape and the club facilities are ready to host golfers for the weekend.

“Most golfers due to the number of days we stayed off the game at the expense of the Pandemic have been yearning for action, especially an opportunity to have a round of golf at Ilorin Club here.

“I believe that this event and others that will look forward to hosting in the future, gives us a perfect chance at opening up the state and its wide investment opportunities to tourists and potential investors.” He stated.

The game would be judged over 18 holes of play and entries have so far from Ibadan Tiger, Ekiti, Minna, Kaduna, Kano, Ikeja and Abeokuta Golf Clubs among others.