House Committee on Sports Chairman To Parley Stakeholders On Thursday In Abuja

 

House Committee on Sports Chairman To Parley Stakeholders On Thursday In Abuja

Hails Super Falcons On Women's World Cup R16 Qualification

Chairman House Committee on Sports, Honourable Ekene Adams Abubakar will on Thursday August 3rd in Abuja, hold a session with critical stakeholders to pave a way for Nigerian sports.

Honourable Ekene, a member representing Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency in Kaduna State made this known a few days after he was named Chairman House Committee on Sports in the 10th House of Representatives by Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas.

The accomplished sports administrator, ex-KADA Stars Chief will meet officials of the Nigeria Football Federation, Presidents of all the 36 Sports Federations, the Nigerian  Olympic Committee, Premier League Club Owners, Nationwide League and other League Boards,  Referees, Ex Internationals, Players Union, The National Institute for Sports, Former Sports Ministers, Coaches, Lottery  Board, EFCC, ICPC and members of Corporate Nigeria in a parley billed for the Reiz Continental Hotel, Abuja.

Also expected at the event are the Nigerian Olympians Association, the Nigeria Police Force, Medical Practioners, the Federal Inland Revenue Service, officials of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Nigerian School Sports Federation amongst others.

Honourable Ekene assured that the meeting will set the tone for a robust and renewed policy direction for Nigerian Sports as well as to seek areas of mutual benefits in the best interest of Nigerian youths. 

Meanwhile, the former General Manager of Remo Stars and professional player has congratulated the gallant Super Falcons, who on Monday qualified for the Round of 16, as they kept  the tempo to become the only unbeaten African team at the ongoing 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Nigeria's national women's team who stunned co-host Australia 3-2 in their second game, played out a draw against Irealand at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, to seal their passage to the knockout stage.

Honourable Ekene, described the Super Falcons as a beacon of hope for not only Nigeria, but the African continent, as he commended the Onome Ebi captained team for its impressive performances, as he urged them not to rest on its oars until they surpass their quarter-final record in the women's Mundial or secure the ultimate prize.

We Were Never Distracted Going Into The World Cup - Super Falcons Media Officer

 

Media officer of Nigeria’s senior football women’s team Oluchi Tobe-Chukwu has said the team was never disturbed by criticisms coming from various quarters in the Nigerian football community.

Randy Waldrum’s open criticism of his employers – Nigeria Football Federation, regarding several issues, including Super Falcons World Cup team selection, unpaid bonuses, and the absence of his assistant, had left Nigerians with little or no belief in the nine time African Champions.

The Falcons however left the controversies behind them with a spirited draw against Olympics Champion, Canada and a 3-2 victory over co-host Australia on Thursday.

Oluchi Tobe-Chukwu, while featuring on BCOS flagship Sports Show, Saturday Breakfast Sports Show, responded to a question from the programme's anchor Boluwaji Ogunmola, on how the team reacted to the negative comments about their chances prior to the World Cup.

She says: “It never disturbed us as we knew we had a team that had quality. We knew what happened at the last WAFCON in Morocco was a one-off and we knew what we had to do (in the World Cup) was to have determination and focus.”

The Media Officer further added that the addition of a performance/fitness coach in Kyle Quigley has added value to the team because the fitness and endurance level of the girls have increased saying Head Coach Randy Waldrum and the girls will certainly finish off their good job in their next game.

She however dispelled fears that some key members of the squad might miss Monday’s game against Republic of Ireland due to injury.

Midfielder, Halimat Ayinde limped off the pitch with what looked like an ankle problem in the second half against Australia.

Defender Michelle Alozie also sustained what appeared to be a knock in the game, while Osinachi Ohale also sustained an injury.

Tobe-chukwu, assured that the players are recovering well and will be fit for the match against the Republic of Ireland.

“The team doctor is in position to analyse the status of players in terms of fitness. We are not in the position to announce that a player is ruled out of the tournament like we did for Asisat (Oshoala) at the last WAFCON in Morocco. But I can assure you that the players are recovering well.”

She appreciated the support of the Nigerian contingent in Brisbane and those back home saying the girls will continue to handle each game as it comes.

The Super Falcons will, in their last group game, take on Ireland at the Lang Park, Brisbane on Monday.

The Nigerian team need just a point from the game to secure a place in the Round of 16.

Behold The New Chairman House Committee On Sports Hon. Ekene Adams

 

Speaker Names Honourable Ekene Adams Chairman House Committee on Sports

Honourable Ekene Abubakar Adams, a member representing Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency in Kaduna State has been named Chairman House Committee on Sports in the 10th House of Representatives. 

The House of Representatives Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, named the committees and their chairmen on Thursday.

A delighted Honourable Ekene Adams said on Thursday, "Good evening all, I am using this medium to appreciate God Almighty and also thank you all for your prayers and best wishes. I have been appointed as the Chairman House Committee on Sports. To my boss, President of Remo Stars Football Club of Ikenne, Honourable Kunle Soname and everyone I remain loyal."

Adams, is no new face in Nigeria sports as his pedigree  is football management speaks volumes. Born in 1985, Adams is a Nigerian entrepreneur, politician,  an astute sports administrator and former professional footballer.

A few years ago, Ekene established KADA City FC, a Nigerian football club based in Kaduna, to enhance development of football within Kaduna. He was regarded as the youngest football club owner in Nigeria.

KADA City was created to promote development of football within Kaduna state. They had their official unveiling ceremony in February 2018. KADA City won the 2018 Nigeria National League promotion playoff over Bendel Insurance F.C. and made their Nigeria Premier League debut in 2019.

The sports administrator would later join Remo Stars as General Manager in 2021. During his time with the Sky Blue Stars, Honourable Ekene Adams propelled the club in gaining promotion back to the NPFL and after one season in the top flight, Remo Stars earned a CAF Confederation Cup ticket after finishing 3rd on the log behind Rivers United and Plateau United.

Good Synergy With Media Can Attract Sponsorship To NLO- Agara

 

Good Synergy With Media Can Attract Sponsorship To NLO- Agara

Former Nasarawa State Deputy Governor, His Excellency Silas Agara has stressed the need for the Nationwide League One to have a good synergy with the media, as it bids to getting brands attention by way of sponsorships. 

Agara, who leads the newly constituted Board of the nation's third-tier domestic football league in his first official interaction with NLO Media Channel talked about his Board's plans.

"Its an opportunity to serve, I’m always available when my services is needed. This is a call to duty, provide leadership to our teeming youths, with Board Members cut across the six geo-political zones. We met once as a board, immediately after the inauguration and set agendas for ourselves. 

"We hope to meet in the next few days to review the entire structure of the Nationwide League One. We are quite aware of the challenges on ground, they’re surmountable. Luckily, we have persons that are knowledgeable in the league, who are proprietors of some of the clubs and are members of the board. With their worth of experience and that of the two State Football Association (State FA) Chairmen on the Board, it's certain we can make a headway.

"This a league that has over 300 clubs, a platform where you have young Nigerians with the age bracket of 14 to 19-years-old, plying their trade and looking for opportunities to get exposed. The challenges are there, however too early to make public our plans as we have just been inaugurated but I can assure you that there is going to be a change of direction."

"We want to have a good synergy with the media, as that’s the best way we can showcase the NLO. We can do this by getting the right reportage and off course brands that will sponsor the league. Without the right media coverage of NLO activities to a global audience, sponsorship won’t come.

"We need the media to reach out to these top brands, and off course intending sponsors have to rely on the good reportage of the league and not negative ones, for them to make critical decisions. If we don't have that understanding with the media, we can't fly our kite regarding sponsorship. We also need to woo the media and bring our plans to the league on the table for them to see and help us reach out to Nigerians.

"The need to getting our officiating right is also another key area we want to look into. Once we have officiating in the league professionally done, with match officials well catered for and not left at the mercies of clubs, footing the bills, this will bring some level of sanity to the league.

"We’re also looking at the home and away match format, and the different ones for the league, to see how we can reduce the burden for the clubs, as many are not making profits yet. At the moment, I will plead with Nigerians to give the new NLO Board a few time, with the assurance that in the next week's, we should be able to take proper stock of what is on ground, know the reforms to introduce and above all get the right sponsors for the league.

I'm delighted with what I have seen on ground, the Chief Operating Officer (Olushola Ogunnowo) has done well for the league and now he has got a Board that will support him."

On plans for next season's NLO Youth League: "We are monitoring events at this edition and surely will proffer solutions to the loopholes from what we have seen from the maiden edition. The Board, really has no much time as our tenure is for two years, however, since we have been given the marching order by the NFF, our job is to address issues and improve on what's on ground."

Olagunju Damola: A Passionate Sports Enthusiast And Philanthropist Per Excellent

 

Olagunju Damola: A Passionate Sports Enthusiast And Philanthropist Per Excellent 

Philanthropy comes in many forms, and it doesn't always require immense wealth to make a significant impact. Olagunju Damola, also known as Richway, is a shining example of a young philanthropist and businessman who is dedicated to giving back to his community and making a difference in the world of football. Hailing from Ede, Osun State, Damola has been actively involved in supporting football initiatives in his hometown, and he has grand plans to expand his contributions to the entire state of Osun.

As the owner of Richway Music in Ede, Damola is deeply committed to his community and actively engages in various charitable events to support football. One notable aspect of his involvement is sponsoring football competitions in Ede and local football clubs. He has previously sponsored a team named Athletico Madrid in Ede, and he has even initiated the process of establishing his very own football club called RICHWAY BOYZ Football Club of EDE. This endeavor is already underway, showcasing Damola's dedication to fostering local talent and providing opportunities for aspiring footballers in his community.

It's worth noting that the adoption of the name "Athletico Madrid" for the team Damola sponsored was part of a larger competition organized to promote supporters' clubs of various teams worldwide. The competition, known as the Ede Football Fans Competition, saw supporters of different clubs like Enyimba FC, Chelsea FC, Arsenal FC, and Remo Stars FC coming together. Damola's sponsorship of this competition highlights his commitment to uniting football enthusiasts and supporting the growth of the sport at the grassroots level.

In a recent interview, Damola expressed his pride in supporting the Osun State Football Association and his willingness to contribute to various events that the association requires sponsorship for. He understands the importance of investing in football infrastructure and development initiatives, particularly during these challenging times.

Looking ahead, Damola aims to be directly involved with football governing bodies in Osun State and Nigeria as a whole, driven by his unwavering love and passion for the game. His ambition extends beyond sponsorship and includes becoming a key figure in football administration in Ede, Osun State, and Nigeria at large. By actively engaging with football at different levels, Damola seeks to leave a lasting legacy and create positive change within the sport he holds dear.

In line with his vision, Damola has taken the initiative to organize and sponsor the RICHWAY U-14 Classic Tourney, a tournament exclusively powered by him. This event will provide young footballers with an opportunity to showcase their skills and passion for the game, further nurturing their growth and potential. Additionally, he plans to sponsor RICHWAY BOYZ FC EDE in the upcoming 17th Free Age Unique Egalitarian Soccer Championship, scheduled for the second week of August 2023.

Olagunju Damola Richway exemplifies the spirit of philanthropy and the transformative power of sports. Through his dedication to football and his community, he is making a positive impact on the lives of aspiring footballers in Ede and Osun State. His unwavering support and determination to contribute to the football landscape serve as an inspiration to others, reminding us all of the difference we can make when we combine passion, philanthropy, and a love for the beautiful game.