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Tag Edo 2020

Sport

Gov. Ganduje assures of Kano’s competitive participation at Edo 2020

Participation
By Muhammad Nur Tijani
Kano, Feb. 21, 2020 (NAN) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State has assured of the state’s robust and competitive participation at the upcoming National Sports Festival (NSF) in Benin.

Ganduje gave the assurance on Thursday in Kano after receiving the festival’s Torch of Unity which has been part of activities to herald the forthcoming NSF holding next month.

Speaking at the Government House in Kano, the governor said the state government would send a strong contingent to the Festival.

Represented by his deputy, Nasiru Gawuna, Ganduje assured that representatives of the state would be provided with all the needed welfare to excel at the festival.

“It is my pleasure to receive the festival torch of unity and this signals the commencement of the 20th National Sports Festival which will take place in Benin,” he said.‎

The governor added that sports remains a veritable tool which engenders the unity and cohesion of the nation.

“We have a very strong contingent and we believe sports is a veritable tool for unity that the nation actually needs at this time.

“We did well in 2018 at Abuja in the last edition. Therefore, I urge the state’s athletes to surpass the previous record and win more laurels in the events you are competing in Edo.

“On behalf of all our sports men and women, I want to assure you of the state governments commitment to your welfare and success in the tournament, ” he said.

Earlier at the occasion, the Chairman of Kano State Sports Commission, Ibrahim Galadima, had said Kano State would be represented at the festival by 355 athletes.

“They will compete in 28 of the 35 sports featuring in the festival.’’

He said the Torch of Unity is expected to move round all the country’s 36 states and the FCT before finally arriving at Benin City on March 22.‎

Galadima therefore urged the athletes to be good ambassadors of the state.(NAN)
MNT/CEO/OLAL
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(Edited by Chidi Opara and Olawale Alabi)

Uncategorized

Obaseki lights unity torch of Edo Sports Festival

Torch
By Joy Odigie
Benin, Jan. 15, 2020 (NAN) Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo on Wednesday in Benin lit the torch of unity of the Edo State Sports Festival to signify the symbolic commencement of the festival.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mrs Anehita Emeya, the Vice-Chairman of Team Edo, presented the torch to the governor at Government House in Benin.

Receiving the torch which symbolises love, unity, and source of peace and beauty, Obaseki said: “I have the unique pleasure to light up the Edo state sports festival unity torch”.

The governor then handed over the torch to his deputy, Phillip Shaibu, who passed it on to the Chairman, Edo State Sports Commission, Godwin Dudu-Orumen.

NAN also reports that the chairman handed it over to athletes, who would thereafter take it round the state’s 18 Local Government Areas (LGAs).

The state sports festival is expected to begin on Feb. 10 and it is being organised to select athletes who will represent the state during the 20th National Sports Festival (NSF).

The 20th NSF is scheduled to begin on March 20 in Benin.(NAN)
OOJ/JEY/OLAL
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(Edited by Johnson Eyiangho and Olawale Alabi)

 

 

 

 

Sport

Ebewele says Edo has employed more than 600 athletes for NSF 2020

Employment
By Monday Ajogun
Benin, Dec. 17, 2019 (NAN) The Chairman of Team Edo to the 2020 National Sports Festival (NSF), Brown Ebewele, says the state government has employed more than 600 athletes for the festival tagged “Edo 2020’’.

Ebewele told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Benin the state government was hopeful of making good use of the athletes’ services.

“My job is to put in place a structure for us to win the festival, and as far as I am concerned I have put that winning structure in place, especially with the employment of the needed athletes.

“The athletes are for the purpose of winning the festival and, by the grace of God, everything we put on paper as programme have been going as planned.

“We are familiar with the terrain, and we have done it before and I think we can still go for it again,’’ he said.

The former Edo Sports Commissioner however said he was ready to defend his actions if Team Edo in the long run failed to win the festival.

“If we don’t win, I will give the reasons why we didn’t win.’’

He assured that, in terms of facilities, he was confident the state government would be able to put them in place ahead of time.

“I think they will be ready between now and middle of February, and very soon we will be talking about test-running the facilities.(NAN)
AJOM/OLAL
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Sport

Nothing like poaching in sports, athletes must move from one place to another, Ebewele says

Poaching
By Monday Ajogun
Benin, Nov. 24, 2019 (NAN) Former national athlete Brown Ebewele on Sunday in Benin said the use of the term “poaching of athletes’’ in Nigerian sports circle is totally wrong.

Ebewele said there is nothing like “poaching’’ but the fact that athletes must move from one place to another ahead of important events such as the 2020 National Sports Festival (NSF).

“Athletes must move for greener pastures. Athletes must move from one place to another.

“In Europe, when you hear of athletes moving from a club or team to another, what do you call it? I think it is called `transfer’. Did anyone call it `poaching’? No,’’ he said.

Ebewele, who is Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Team Edo in the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the 20th NSF tagged “Edo 2020’’, said movements and transfers are usual occurrences in sports.

“They (athletes) must move from one place to another. It is normal. They are looking for greener pastures. So, it’s not `poaching’, it’s greener pastures,’’ he said.

The former U.S.-based athlete said movements from one team or club to another are crucial in sports, especially in the business aspect of it.

“Part of the business of sports is movement. If you are doing well and you are hot, somebody must come for your services. If the pay is good, you must move.

“As a matter of fact, the best word you can use for it as a sports man is recruitment. When a major tournament is coming like the NSF, states must beef up their teams.’’

He said it must be realised as a fact that athletes have the right to move from one place to another when they are not owned by any body or group.(NAN)
AJOM/OLAL
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Sport

Edo 2020 facilities to be ready before Dec. 31, Deputy Governor says

Facilities

By Monday Ajogun

Benin, Oct. 28, 2019 (NAN) Edo Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, on Monday, assured that all the facilities that would be used during the upcoming National Sports Festival (NSF), tagged Edo 2020, would be ready before Dec. 31.

Shaibu gave the assurance while addressing newsmen at the Edo Government House, Benin.

“The major challenges of hosting a national sports festival like this are venues and facilities but I am happy to say that the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, which is the major venue for all the activities, is almost completed.

“I can boldly say that we are in 85 to 90 percent completion stage at the stadium; the main bowl is 100 percent completed, just like the tartan tracks.

“The warm-up area of the swimming pool is already fixed, while the main area is 70 to 75 percent ready. We have also done the lawn tennis court to meet international standard.

“With the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) facility in Ogbemudia Stadium, we can apply for any tournament that requires such technology as a criterion,” he said.

The deputy governor further said that all the sub-committees inaugurated for the assignments were working round the clock to ensure a successful and colourful outing. (NAN)
AJOM/GOM/WAS

(Edited by Gregg Mmaduakolam and ‘Wale Sadeeq)

Sport

Edo to host over 8,500 athletes during NSF 2020, official says

Hosts
By Igbaugba Ehigimetor
Benin, Oct. 25, 2019 (NAN) No fewer than 8,500 athletes are expected to participate in the 20th edition of the National Sports Festival (NSF) tagged “Edo 2020’’, an official said on Friday in Benin.

Mike Itemuagbor, Chairman of the Marketing Sub-Committee of the festival’s Local Organising Committee (LOC), disclosed this at a joint meeting of the LOC’s Publicity and Communication and Marketing Sub-Committees.

He said the festival scheduled to hold from March 22 to April 1 would see the athletes competing for 3,000 medals from 33 sports.

“Athletes from the 36 states and the FCT are expected to participate in the festival, and the events will hold at 22 venues,’’ Itemuagbor said.

He then called for synergy between the Publicity and Communication Sub-Committee and the Marketing Sub-Committee.

“The Publicity and Communication Sub-Committee should use various platforms to sell the festival to the world,’’ Itemuagbor said, promising that nothing would be left to chance in the bid to ensure the best-organised NSF.

He said there was the need to understand that the media and marketing drive sports. “So, we must use our various platforms to propagate the Edo 2020 events,’’

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Edo had hosted the 1981 edition of the festival (then as Bendel) and the 2002 edition.(NAN)
ESI/JPE/OLAL
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(Edited by Joseph Edeh and Olawale Alabi)

Sport

2020 NSF: Edo to unveil festival mascot, theme song Oct. 17

Unveiling
By Igbaugba Ehigimetor
Benin, Oct. 9, 2019 (NAN) The Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the 20th National Sports Festival (NSF) on Wednesday in Benin said it would unveil the festival’s mascot and theme song on Oct.17.

Tony Akiotu, spokesman of the LOC, while announcing this after the committee’s meeting in Benin, said the song and the mascot were selected from the 77 entries received by the LOC.

He said also that the national unveiling of the song and mascot would take place in Lagos on Oct. 28.

“While the unveiling in Benin will not be with a big ceremony, that of Lagos will be organised alongside the launch of the fund-raising for the games,’’ Akiotu said.

He added that the fund-raising was to enable Edo host a very successful NSF in 2020.

Akiotu disclosed that plans were underway for a very wide coverage of the festival.

“Super Sports will beam the opening and closing ceremonies of the festival live, while other local television stations will hook up to it throughout the duration of the competition.

“As part of the publicity for the festival, billboards will be hosted in major airports in the six geo-political zones of the country.

“Edo is not just hosting for the fun of it, we are hosting an event that will be historic. We are hosting to raise the standard and organisation of the games,” he said.

The LOC spokesman said the festival’s organisers would also ensure they used the event to showcase five icons of the festival from Edo.

“We will showcase our icons, such as Maria Osifo and Isaac Ikhuoria, among others.’’

Akiotu added that nine venues, including the renovated Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, would play host to 33 sports competitions during the festival.

He said the University of Benin and the Benin Technical College had been chosen to serve as the Games Village.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NSF 2020, which will hold from March 22 to April 1, will be the third NSF the state will be hosting.

The old Bendel State had hosted the 1981 edition, while Edo State had in 2002 hosted the event also.(NAN)
ESI/JI/OLAL
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(Edited by Joe Idika and Olawale Alabi)

Sport

NSF 2020: Delegates commend Gov. Obaseki for level of preparedness in Edo

Preparation
By Monday Ajogun
Benin, July 9, 2019 (NAN) Delegates to the ongoing technical meeting on the 20th National Sports Festival (NSF) have commended Edo’s Gov. Godwin Obaseki on the state’s level of preparedness for the festival tagged “Benin 2020”.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the delegates,  drawn from the FCT and the 36 states of the federation, arrived in the state for a four-day visit.

Chairman of Directors of Sports Forum, Tunde Kazeem, gave the commendation shortly on Tuesday after a tour of some of the facilities and venues to use for the competition.

“We have to commend the governor for his contribution to sports in the state. What we saw today (Tuesday) tells us that the state is fully ready for the festival.

“We have visited the hostel accommodation at the University of Benin, Ogbemudia Stadium and others.

“Edo is good to go. What is on ground is commendable, compared to what it used to be before today’s visit,” he said”.

The chairman said that recommendation on some of the facilities and venues had also been made to the appropriate authorities.

In his remarks, Godwin Dudu-Orumen, chairman of the state’s Sports Commission Chairman, assured that the recommendations made by the delegates would be taken into consideration.(NAN)
AJOM/CHOM/OLAL
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(Edited by Chioma Ugboma and Olawale Alabi)

Sport

Dalung inaugurates Edo 2020 Main Organising Committee

Inauguration
Abuja, April 23, 2019 (NAN) The Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung, on Tuesday in Abuja inaugurated the Main Organising Committee (MOC) for the 20th National Sports Festival (NSF) tagged “Edo 2020’’.

While inaugurating the committee, Dalung said the decision to grant Edo the hosting right was borne out of strategic thinking and the commitment already shown by the state’s government and people.

“Edo won the hosting right after a competitive bidding process. We didn’t want to drag our feet again and we wanted to avoid the delays that characterised the 19th NSF.

“The state showed commitment, evident in the Governor’s presence at both the opening and closing ceremonies of the 19th NSF, as well as during the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony.

“We also didn’t want the 2019 political transition to negatively affect preparations for the Festival. Thus the choice of Edo was strategic as the state doesn’t have any political transition in 2019,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Edo were named the 2020 hosts of the NSF during the closing ceremony of the 19th NSF in December in Abuja.

The 19th edition was held after six years of delays and postponements, and Dalung said it was out of the need to avoid such that his ministry decided to be steadfast.

“If we don’t inaugurate this committee now and allow it to go to work, it may not be done till June, July or August. So, what time will it have to work?”

Dalung urged the MOC members to commit themselves to delivering a successful NSF in 2020 and be mindful of the peace and unity of Nigeria while going about their responsibilities.

The minister also called on the private sector to support sports development in Nigeria, especially the NSF, which he referred to as one of the core symbols of Nigeria’s unity.

The MOC Chairman, Olusade Adesola, in his acceptance speech assured that the members would work tirelessly to deliver on their mandate.

Adesola who is also the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Sports and Youth Development, said the MOC members accepted the task with humility and a sense of responsibility,

“Although the task before us is enormous, we promise that we will make sure we work round the clock to deliver a 2020 NSF which will surpass the 2018 edition,” he said.

The Permanent Secretary pointed out that majority of members of the MOC was also part of the 2018 Festival.

He then urged the members to dedicate themselves and double their efforts for a greater result in 2020.

NAN reports that the 17-man MOC has the Edo Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, as its vice-chairman, while Hauwa Kulu-Akinyemi, the ministry’s Director of Planning, Monitoring and Information, is the MOC secretary.

The MOC also has the Chairman Edo State Sports Commission; President, Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC); President, Paralympic Committee of Nigeria; Director, Grassroots Sports Development; and Director, Federations and Elite
Athletes Department.

Other members are the Director, Facilities and Stadia Management; Director, Sports Medicine; Director, Finance and Accounts; Director of Press; Director, Human Resources Management; and Director, National Institute for Sports (NIS).

The rest are the Head, Legal Unit; Chairman, Committee of States’ Directors of Sports; a representative of the Minister; and the Director of Sports, Edo State Sports Commission.

The Edo Director of Sports will serve as the committee’s Assistant Secretary.

NAN reports that the 2020 NSF is scheduled to hold from March 22 to April 1 in Benin City, to make it the third time the event was being held in the ancient city.

Edo had hosted two previous editions of the NSF, the first being the one held in the old Bendel State in 1981 and the second being the 2002 edition.(NAN)
KIA/OLAL
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)