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Sports: Still A Long Way To Greatness
Sports has become more than a recreational and entertainment activity across the world. It has indeed, transformed into a powerful tool for most countries to forge and achieve many national goals, be it political, economic, social or national integration.
Nigeria by all standard, ought to be one of the best sporting nations of the world considering the physiological endowment of her people, the large human capital and apparent abundance of internationally acclaimed administrators and economic opportunities at her disposal.
However, despite the front-row standing of sports in the reckoning of most Nigerians and the fact that it has, over the years acted as one of the strongest unifying factors obtainable in the country, the sector seems not to have made the level of progress expected of it.
In fact, sports, generally, has flattered to deceive more often than not and at the best of times flourished in sparks and sports.
Sixty years down the line, sports in the country can hardly be classified neither as a massive success nor a monumental failure.
Most stakeholders are of the opinion that the country, as the self acclaimed giant of Africa, should have by now became the beacon and leading sporting nation in the continent, as well as a serious contender for laurels at every international meet.
Unfortunately, despite taking part in the Olympic Games since 1952, eight years before independence and having been part of the world’s greatest sports rendezvous 17 times, the country can only boast of a mere 25 medals, three gold, 10 silver and 12 bronze medals, a haul some smaller and less endowed countries have been harvesting in one or two outings.
The record and the country’s inability to have made it beyond the Second Round of the FIFA World Cup underlines her failure to harness the enormous human capital to compete successfully among the comity of nations.
As the country marks her 60 years of independence and reminisces over her tortuous journey since 1960, it is pertinent to note that though she has not lived up to her potentials yet in sports, the sector still remains one of the country‘s most potent agents of unity, a serious diplomatic tool and an elixir for the citizenry in their daily efforts to escape the trauma and challenges of life.
In the Dream Team to the Atlanta ’96 Olympic Games, the Golden Eaglets, Police Woman Chioma Ajunwa, Emmanuel Ifeajuna, who while still a student gave Nigeria her first Commonwealth. Games medal in high jump in 1954, Hogan ‘Kid’ Bassey, who emerged World Featherweight Boxing Champion in 1957, Dick Tiger Ihetu, who won the middle Weight title and later moved up to become the World Light Heavyweight Champion, as well as Michael Okpala (Power Mike), Nigeria has had some athletes and teams, who had at different times ruled the world.
Also, the country, in late Orok Oyo, Habu Gumel, Amos Adamu, Sani Ndanusa, Violet Nwajei-Odogwu, Awoture Eleaye, Late Abraham Ordia, Late Patrick Okpomo, Solomon Ogba, Amaju Pinnick among others, has produced sports administrators that made international impact.
Apart from athletes and administrators that have impacted the world of sports in the past 60 years of nationhood, Nigeria has hosted key continental and global sports competitions. These include the All Africa Games which has been hosted twice in 1973 in Lagos and 2003 in Abuja, African Cup of Nations, twice, in 1980 and 2000, while the country has also played host to the African Women Nations Cup thrice, in 1998, 2002 and 2006.
Nigeria has also hosted FIFA World Cup events twice when in 1999 she staged the FIFA U-20 World Cup, popularly called Nigeria ‘ 99 and the FIFA U-17 World Cup 10 years later in 2009.
The period between the 1980s and 1990s could be referred to as the golden era for Nigeria. This was when the top 10 in sprints and middle distance races would not be mentioned in Africa and globally without at least three to four Nigerians being in the line up. It was also a time when the country broke its duck and won the African Cup of Nations for the first time, after hosting the Championship in 1980.
The era threw up iconic stars across different sporting fields such as Mary Onyali, Falilat Ogunkoya, Tina Iheagwam, Chioma Ajunwa, Chidi Imo, Innocent Egbunike, Yusuf Alli, Henry Amike, Adeniken Olapade, the Ezinwa brothers (Davinson and Osmond) Beatrice Utondu, Mary Tombiri, Oluchi Ogwo, Christy Opara-Thompson, Moses Ugbesien, Fatima Yusuf and Olusoji Fasugba.
Others include, Peter Konyegwachie, Ikpoto Eseme, Ironbar Bassey, Brown Ebewele, Gabriel Okon, Segun Toriola, Funke Oshonaike, Bose Kaffo, Hakeem Olajuwon, Atanda Musa, Nduka Odizor, David Imonite and a plethora of football stars.
In football, the country has made more in roads than others fields. After wining the African Cup of Nations in 1980, it qualified for the final of a FIFA world tournament for the first time in 1983 when the national U-20 team qualified for the Youth World Cup in Mexico.
The Flying Eagles beat Russia, drew with Holland and lost 0-3 to Brazil to fail to advance from the Group stage.
Two years later, Nigeria made it to the maiden FIFA U-17 Kodak tournament in China. The cadet team under the tutelage of coach Sebastian Brodericks Imasuen stunned the world as they stormed to the title in grand style.
To be continued
President Bola Tinubu has approved the nomination of four new members to the Governing Council of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement yesterday, said the appointment is to fill existing vacancies and strengthen the board’s capacity.
The statement said the approved nominees are Mr. Olusegun Omosehin of the National Insurance Commission and Engr. Wole Ogunsanya of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria.
Tinubu also endorsed the nomination of Sam Onyechi, who represents the Nigerian Content Consultative Forum and Barrister Owei Oyanbo from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
The President encouraged the new members to leverage their expertise and dedication to enhance local content development within Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
It added, “The nominations arose from the exit of previous institutional representatives from the Governing Council.
“The NCDMB Governing Council, established under Section 69 of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act, 2010, comprises representatives from key institutions.
“These include the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria, the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, the Nigerian Content Consultative Forum, and the National Insurance Commission.”
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has announced plans to construct additional hostels, rehabilitate roads, and enhance power supply in the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT).
NDDC’s Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, disclosed this during a visit to the commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt, yesterday by a delegation from the UNIPORT’s Governing Council.
Ogbuku stated that the NDDC had committed to upgrading facilities at UNIPORT as part of efforts to foster partnership with educational institutions across the Niger Delta.
According to him, the implementation of additional projects at the university forms part of a broader strategy to improve education standards in the region.
“Aside from the construction of new hostel blocks and installation of a 300 KVA solar inverter system, the NDDC will also facilitate more projects in the university.
“The commission will also deploy its engineers to assess the condition of UNIPORT’s roads and hostels for potential rehabilitation,” he said.
Ogbuku noted that upon completion, the projects would add to various initiatives previously undertaken by the commission at the university.
“These and other projects reflect our commitment to actualising President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda in the Niger Delta region,” he added.
He reaffirmed the NDDC’s dedication to fostering development and strengthening partnerships across the region.
Earlier, Sen. Mao Ohuanbunwa, Chairman of UNIPORT’s Governing Council, who led the delegation commended the current leadership of the NDDC for its achievements in accelerating development in the Niger Delta.
He highlighted the university’s infrastructural challenges, noting that it lacked adequate facilities to accommodate its growing student population, and appealed for the NDDC’s support in addressing the shortfall.
“Currently, UNIPORT has a total student population of about 50,000, while its hostel accommodation capacity can only cater for 5,000 students.
“We therefore urge the NDDC to assist in the construction of additional hostels, improve transportation facilities, and facilitate the acquisition of gas turbines to enhance power supply for our students,” Ohuanbunwa pleaded.
The Vice Chancellor of UNIPORT, Prof. Owunari Georgewill, commended NDDC for its impactful projects across the Niger Delta and extended an invitation to the commission to participate in the institution’s forthcoming 50th anniversary celebrations.
The Senate has rejected a motion to rename the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters after the former chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission, late Prof Humphrey Nwosu.
Nwosu presided over the June 12, 1993, presidential election, which was truncated by the former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd).
The election which was won by the late business mogul, Chief MKO Abiola, was adjudged to be the freest and fairest in the electoral history of Nigeria.
The motion to rename INEC after Nwosu was re-sponsored by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe yesterday after lawmakers threw it out last Wednesday.
Abaribe called for posthumous national honours to be conferred on Nwosu in recognition of his role in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.
However, the proposal sparked a heated debate once again, with lawmakers deeply divided over Nwosu’s legacy.
Senator Osita Ngwu acknowledged that Nwosu operated under a military regime, which restricted his ability to announce the results.
He argued that “there was no way he would have announced the results with a gun to his head. That doesn’t change the fact that some of us see him as a hero.”
Senator Austin Akobundu, however, described it as most uncharitable for lawmakers to dismiss Nwosu’s contributions, insisting that he deserved a place in Nigeria’s hall of honour.
On the other hand, several senators like Senator Jimoh Ibrahim dismissed the idea outright, questioning why the Senate should honour someone who failed to announce the results insisting that “nothing should be named after him”.
Senator Cyril Fasuyi argued that history does not reward efforts, but only results.
“As long as he did not announce the result, whether under duress or not, I am against naming INEC headquarters after him,” he submitted.
Also, Senator Sunday Karimi criticised Nwosu for lacking the courage to speak out, while Senator Afolabi Salisu warned that immortalising him would undermine the memory of MKO Abiola, the widely accepted winner of the June 12, 1993, annulled election.
“Any attempt to do anything beyond a one-minute silence is to rubbish Abiola’s legacy,” he tendered.
After intense deliberation, most senators rejected the motion through a voice vote.
They, however, agreed to honour him with a one-minute silence and extend condolences to his family, effectively dismissing the other prayers to immortalise Nwosu.