The Minister made this known during the inauguration of an 11-man team to manage the game within a stipulated period.

He stated “the Terms of Reference of the Committee are to amongst others,
draw up programmes that will revamp basketball from the grassroots,
attract corporate sponsors and revive the moribund domestic leagues for
the development of the game within 2 years, and ensure the development
of Basketball facilities in the entire country, and any other thing that will
facilitate the development of Basketball in Nigeria”.

“I therefore charge you all to carry out this enormous task with utmost sense of responsibility, bearing in mind you cannot afford to fail in this National assignment”.

The members of the Interim Management Committee include:

Dr. Henry Nzekwu – Chairman​

Mr. Udon Ubon Humapwa – Member

Mr. Frank Jituboh – Member

Zenith Bank Representative – Member

Prof. Adamu Ahmed – Member

Mr. Peter Nelson – Member

Grp. Captain Rahinatu Garba – Member

Aderemi Adewunmi – Member

Oluchi Nzekwe – Member

Seni Adio (SAN) – Member

Minister of Youth and Sports Development Chief Sunday Dare has described Bayelsa State as the ‘wrestling industry’ of the country following its tradition of producing great talents and champions over the years.

The Minister stated this at the closing ceremony of the just-concluded 1st Gov. Diri National Wrestling Classics in Yenagoa – the Bayelsa State capital – on Tuesday.

Last year, Bayelsa –born Blessing Oborududu became the first-ever Nigerian wrestler to win an Olympic medal, grabbing a silver medal in the 68kg class at the Tokyo 2020 Games in Japan.

The 10 time African champion Oborududu followed the footsteps of fellow Bayelsan and Nigeria Wresting Federation (NWF) President Hon. Daniel Igali, who won an Olympic gold medal for Canada at the Sydney 2000 Games, having previously represented Nigeria at different international competitions.

“The wrestling glory of our country Nigeria is planted solidly in Bayelsa State,” the Sports Minister, who was the Special Guest at the event, noted. “We have seen our stars come from the nooks and crannies of this state.

“We have seen this state attract some great talents from across the country, and the Gov. Diri National Classics is a testimony to that fact that Bayelsa State is the wrestling industry for Nigeria.

“I want to thank all the athletes that have taken part in this 5-day event.”

While lauding Bayelsa State Governor Sen. Douye Diri for his continuous investment in wrestling and other sports, Sunday Dare expressed confidence that the champions at the tournament will go ahead to give Nigeria quality representation at the 2022 African Championships in Morocco later this month and the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

“I’m confident that from here we will select those that will represent us in two weeks’ time at the African Championships in Morocco and also those that will eventually fly our flag at the Commonwealth Games in July,” he said.

“Let me also go on record to appreciate the commitment of His Excellency Governor Diri of Bayelsa State to sports development and in the state and also in Nigeria, especially his investment in wrestling and the hosting of the 1st Gov. Diri National Wrestling Classics. He has followed in the tradition of his predecessors.”

Emeka Dennar

Media Officer

Nigeria Wrestling Federation

+2348035031357

Twitter: @WrestlingNaija

Facebook: Nigeria Wrestling Federation:

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Minister of Youth and sports Development Chief Sunday Dare has congratulated newly elected Executive committee member of Fifa and President of Nff Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick on his success at the poll.

Amaju was elected into the exalted position of Fifa Executive committee after emerging victorious at the CAF election held in Morocco on Friday,
winning by 43 votes to his opponents 8 votes.

According to the statement from the Minister’s Media Office, this is an opportunity for Nigeria and indeed the African continent.

The Minister charged Amaju to use his position to reposition Nigerian and African football “This is an opportunity to use your new position to make Nigerian, African and World football great again and make it better than you met it. This is the reward of hardwork and unity of purpose. We are better off when we support our collective aspirations for the development of our great country. This is an honour well deserved”

The Minister had last week declared open support for Amaju , thus securing the backing of the Federal Government. The Minister was appreciative of the support of Mr. President and the efforts of the foreign Ministry.

Amaju becomes the third Nigerian after Late Mr. Orok Oyo Orok and Dr Amos Adamu to occupy the Fifa Executive committee seat.

Signed

Media office, Honorable Minister of Youth and sports Development

It was all pump and pageantry on Thursday March 11th in the historic city of Ogbomosho land as the Minister of Youth and Sports Development Mr. Sunday Dare was installed as the Agbaakin of Ogbomosholand by the Soun of Ogbomosho Oba Jimoh Oyedunni Oyewumi Ajagungbade III

The honour is in recognition of Dare’s giant strides in the development Ogbomosoland and the country at large which has seen him renovate the Soun Stadium, Trainned 40 coaches, facilitated the Building of the hospital at Pakiotan, facilitate the release of take off grant for the Federal Polytechnic Ayede and donation of an 18 seater bus to the newly established Federal institution, vocational training for more than 200 youths, rehabilitation of the Taki roundabout, donation of laptops to Lautec among others.

The title was bestowed on the Minister by the Soun of Ogbomosho land on November 20th 2020, but the official coronation was delayed due to the Minister’s busy schedule.

Speaking during the ceremony, the Monarch said “The title of Agbaakin is one of the highest title confered on any courageous, hardworking, dedicated and prominent son of Ogbomosho that has done alot to the development of our town. The important role of Dare in Ogbomosoland and Nigeria in general canot be undermined. His giant strides in Youth Empowerment, provision of infrastructure, sports Development canot be be over emphasized. He is a true son of the soil and a worthy Nigerian in whom we are all pleased. I hereby confer this title on you for your outstanding performance”.

Dare said he was humbled by the title, assuring that it would spur him to do more.

Meanwhile, members of the Ogbomosho Descendants Development Association have congratulated the Minister on his well deserved honour
A statement by the Chairman of the Association Rtd. Air Commodore Jacob Adigun said,” On behalf of all Ogbomosho Descendants home and abroad, we congratulate our Minister on this well deserved honour. We believe this would encourage you to serve our great town, Oyo State and Nigeria better”

Signed

Media office of the Honorable Minister of Youth and sports Development.

Speaking at the occasion, Mr. Dare said” From time immemorial, Rivers state had a reputation of producing notable people like the Great Jaja of Opobo, Alfred Diette Spiff, Justice Karibe White, foremost viriologist Professor Tam David West, two Sports Ministers Alabo Graham Douglas and Tammy Danagogo. In football, Sharks which metamorphosed to Rivers United had produced world acclaimed players.
Today’s event is therefore not only ephocal, but Special and monumental. I’m confident that The Real Madrid Academy Ph will produce fantastic players like Paul Hamilton, Adokiye Amaesimaka, Jossy Dombraye, Taribo West, Furo Iyenemi and Nigeria’s most capped player Joseph Yobo. The foundation for the actualisation of this dream has been laid today”.

The Minister further said ” Although two Nigerians Emmanuel Amuneke and Gbenga Okunowo had played for Real Madrid bitter rivals Barcelona, no Nigerian has played for the Galaticos. The setting up of this institution could change that trajectory by producing new Ferenck Puskas, Santiago Bernabeur, Raul Gonzalez , Roberto Carlos, Zinedine zidane and Ronaldo.”
Mr Dare affirmed that ” Since the main objective is to promote in Rivers State and Nigeria the values inherent in football as a profession, The Real Madrid Football Academy Ph is an educational tool capable of contributing to the comprehensive development of our youth by creating jobs and wealth. It also in sync with our motive of combining education and sports which are inseparable”

He assured the Rivers State Government of the support of the Federal Ministry of Youth and sports Development to ensuring the implementation of the Academy’s mandate
The Real Madrid Football Academy, Ph was founded in 2019 by the Governor of Rivers State having been given the Franchise to operate by the Real Madrid Foundation.

Signed

Media Office of the Honorable Minister of Youth and sports Development

As the drums are rolled out in celebration of the 50th year anniversary of the coronation of the Alafin of Oyo Oba Lamidi Olanrewaju Adeyemi III, Minister of Youth and sports Development Mr Sunday Dare has described the Alafin of Oyo Kingdom as a unifier and custodian of a rich cultural value.
According to Mr. Dare

“On behalf of the good people of Oyo state and Nigerians at large, I felicitate with his Imperial Majesty Oba Lamidi Olanrewaju Adeyemi 111 on the special occasion of your 50th year Coronation.

“Your reign has not only brought stability, progress and development , it has fostered unity, love and hope in Oyo State and Nigeria in general. Your fatherly role, wisdom and peaceful disposition has been quite inspiring in the last 50 years of your reign. You are not just a custodian of our rich cultural values and tradition, but a lover of humanity and consummate sports man. Your life is indeed very exemplary not only to the old generation, but to the Youth who have alot to learn from your life of selfless service.

“As you continue to lead the people of our Great Kingdom, May God bless and sustain you in Good health ” Mr. Dare concluded.

Oba Adeyemi emerged as the Alafin in 1970, but was corononated on the 14th January, 1971 by the Military Administrator of General Adeyinka Adebayo.
Born on October 15th 1938, the Alafin remains one of the longest reigning Monarchs in Yoruba Land.

Signed

Media Office to the  Minister of  Youth and Sports Development

The first phase of the empowerment programme took place Thursday at the Liberty Stadium, Ibadan and women from Oyo South and Oyo Central Senatorial Districts were the beneficiaries.

The second phase of the programme scheduled for the beneficiaries, women from Oyo North Senatorial District is expected to take place on July 20 , 2020 in the ancient city of Ogbomoso, the country home of the Minister.

Sunday Dare who was represented by the former Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Olagunju Ojo enjoined the beneficiaries to make good use of the money.

”The Empowerment isn’t about giving people money; it’s about giving them power. One that cannot be taken away from them, and through that, they can sustain themselves. On this note, I commend Hon. Sunday Akin Dare for his genuine commitments to the poverty alleviation schemes . I want to also urge all the beneficiaries to make good use of the money, ” Olagunju stated .

The women leader of All Progressive Congress(APC) in Oyo state, Mrs Mabel Williams, in her remarks, lauded Hon. Sunday Dare for his selfless service and kind heart.

“When you make an impact in one family, you have touched a community, which in turn impacts the nation. And that is what the Honourable Minister, Hon. Sunday Akin Dare is doing with various programs of this kind. He can only make this financial empowerment available but you are in the best position to judiciously make use of it,” Mrs Mabel encouraged .

The Special Assistant to Osun state Governor Gboyega Oyetola on diaspora Hon. Titilayo Fadahusi, who also represented the Minister , stated that women from the 33 Local Government Areas and 35 LCDA’s are the beneficiaries of the empowerment scheme. According to Mrs Titilaoye, the financial assistance was given to the women to aid financing their small scale businesses and become self- reliant and to be able to contribute their quota to the development of the state and Nigeria at large.

Hon. Segun Ajanaku commended the contributions of Hon. Sunday Dare to the women development and overall progress of the state .

“The essence of this empowerment is to relieve women of economic hardship as an impact of Covid-19 which has affected all parts of the world,” Ajanaku stated .

In attendance were the representative of the Minister, a former Speaker Of the Oyo State House Of Assembly, Hon Olagunju Ojo, Oyo State APC Women Leader, Mrs Mabel Williams, Hon.Segun Ajanaku, Former Oyo State Head Of Service, Hon. Soji Eniade among others.
A record 300 women benefited from the empowerment program of the Minister.

Signed
Media Office to the Minister of Youth and Sports Development

Speaking during the inauguration yesterday, Mr. Dare said, ” The inauguration of this committee is a fall out of last week’s Council of Sports meeting. The effort to deliver on your mandate has started. This assignment must be given the urgency it deserves.

“We must follow the regime of what obtains globally. This is a call to duty which must be handled with all the seriousness it deserves. I charge you to carry out this task within the stipulated period of 30 days in which you are expected to submit your report”.

Dare said the terms of reference of the committee include; interface with all stakeholders and relevant agencies to determine the state of Edo state readiness to host the festival, ascertain the level of health infrastructure, prepare code of operation for athletes, officials and propose a new date for the Festival.

In his response, chairman of the Committee Honourable Tonobok Okowa said, “We thank the Minister for the opportunity to serve in this important sector which counts alot for the Youths of this country. We assure you that with our wealth of experience, we will deliver on time”.

Samuel Sochukwuma Okwaraji, the dancing midfielder slumped and died on August 12, 1989 inside the Main Bowl of the National stadium during a World Cup qualifier against Angola. His death, sent shock waves across the length and breadth of the nation as football fans retired to their beds, devastated, that one of Nigeria’s finest footballers have passed on, without a formal goodbye.

His death left a yawning gap in our shallow hearts anytime we remember his many legacies. His space, many have struggled to fill even till this day.

As if that was not enough, on May 4, 2012, another great Nigerian, the finest goal poacher this country ever produced, the man who scored Nigeria’s first World Cup goal, the black pearl and pride of the black race, Rashidi the gangling Yekini, died, leaving behind an aged mother, his sibblings and millions of heart broken supporters.

A Nation has lost two of it’s finest footballers in just a spate of 24years. During this period, sports ministers came and left without thinking of how to immotalise these heroes of our glorious past, yet we wake up daily to recite the country’s national anthem with that frustrating cliche ” the labour of our heroes past, shall never be in vain”

The appointment of Sunday Dare as Nigeria’s sports minister has rekindled fading hopes, it has brought light to a dark tunnel and has restored laughter to the dead even in their graves.

On August 12, 2020, it will be 31 years since Samuel Okwaraji departed this sinful world. Since that day, he has not had a chance to turn in his grave until few weeks ago, when Nigeria’s sports minister Sunday Dare, honoured is aged mother.

The Oyo state born administrator gave out 50,000 naira to the mother of Samuel Okwaraji and promised to assist with a monthly stipend of 10,000 naira.

He did not stop there. A few days later, Dare did same to the aged mother of Rashidi Yekini and instructed the Nigeria football federation to follow suit with an additional 30,000 naira stipend to be paid to both women monthly and in tears, they have not stopped showing gratitude.

From their graves, both players shook their heads in appreciation, they moved their legs as if to say thank you even as they watched their mothers shed tears of joy after years of neglect from a country that got so much from their children but offered so little. 

Even in Kwara state where Rashidi Yekini hails from, nothing has been done in the form of a monument to immortalize this great football icon. Same for Samuel Okwaraji, Muda Lawal, Thunder Balogun and many other heroes of our glorious past who died after years of patriotic service to fatherland.

From the East, West, South and North, the name on every lips for now, is that of Nigeria minister of youth and sports development.

Sunday Dare the dazzler, has dazzled Nigerians with his wisdom, he has succeeded where others failed and in less than one year, he has written his name in gold.

Dare is here to comfort the weak, he is here to reverse abnormalities and give hope to the dejected. He has flourished where his predecessors faltered.

He is arguably the first Nigerian sports minister to invest in the welfare of Nigeria athletes past and present. The plight of sports men is his top priority and he seem ready to accomplish so much in just 4years.

Apart from the late Rashidi Yekini and Samuel Okwaraji who are now smiling in their graves, late Sunday Bada, an Olympic Silver medalist will also be telling the angels good things about Sunday Dare in heaven, same as late Peter Ogaba and Ali Jeje.

Dare is not only concerned about the dead, he is also interested in the plight of the living.

Former Super Falcons Chief coach Kadiri Ikhana is one of the latest beneficiaries, same as ex international Sunday Eboigbe who has battled with ill health for several years with no form of support coming from anywhere.

Barely one month after he was appointed Nigeria Sports minister, Sunday Dare sprung into action by forcing the NFF to pay late Uzama Douglas’s outstanding match bonuses to his wife and three year old son.

Just when it seem like all hopes were lost, president Muhammadu Buhari has given Nigeria a sports minister that understands exactly what the people want, a tireless and workaholic man who is never ready to stop putting smiles on the faces of Nigerian youths.

A minister who is always on his toes looking for what next to do has found a comfort zone to excel.

He is a listening minister, a goal getter, a passion driven and always motivated personality who will stop at nothing but success and excellence.

Dare is the only man in history that satisfies the living and the dead.

From beyond, the ghosts of the faithful departed must be saying, that they are indeed very grateful to Mr Sunday Dare, the man God has appointed for a purpose.

Adewale Ajayi, a veteran sports journalist, writes from Canada

According to Dare, “Chief Akinjide was a man of many parts; a legal icon , luminary, great administrator and outstanding politician. He was meticulous and a shining armour in our chequered political history.

“He was just not a force to reckon with in Nigeria, he was respected outside the shores of Nigeria. He was indeed great mind who made his mark in his chosen proffession. He was an accomplished Nigerian who left his footsteps in the sands of Nigerian socio political life.

“His death has left a big vacuum in the politics of Oyo State and Nigeria in general. My condolences goes to his family, friends, associates and the Nigerian Bar Association. May his soul find eternal rest in the Lord. Indeed, an iroko tree has fallen,” Dare noted.

Signed
Media Office to the Minister of Youth and Sports Development