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Ist Engr. Gumel National Weightlifting Championship: Bayelsa Leads Medal Table

After day 2 of the maiden Engr. Habu Ahmed Gumel National Weightlifting Championship holding is Abuja, Bayelsa State has shot to the top of the medal table with 6 gold and 6 silver medals ahead of 17 other teams vying for honours in the championship.

Competing in the men’s 61 kg weight category, Agboro Favour who lifted 101kg in Snatch , 140 kg in Clean/Jerk to record a total of 241 kg and Ayodele Ruth who had 90 kg in Snatch, 120kg in Clean/Jerk and score a total of 210 kg accounted for Bayelsa state gold medal haul so far.

Akwa Ibom, Cross Rivers, Edo, Ogun and Oyo State are having 3 gold medals each but Ogun is occupying the second position for clinching an additional silver medal while Oyo boasts of an additional 3 bronze medals to move to the 3rd position.

Bauchi State that really started well as far as the race for medals is concerned, are still struggling to grab a gold medal. The state currently boasts of 8 silver and 3 bronze medals.

However, the medal table is expected to change today with the Championship drawing to an end.

However, the first Vice President of the Weightlifting. Federation of Africa (WFA) and former President of the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation, Sir Chimdi Ejiogu, who flagged off the Championship, gave Kudos to the President of the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF), Dr. Abdul Ibrahim and other stakeholders for thinking it wise to stage the championship.

He described Engr. Habu Ahmed Gumel, the President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) in whose honour the Championship is being held as a living Legend and a great ambassador to Nigeria who is worthy of honour having contributed immensely to the Development of Sports in the country.

According to Sir Ejiogu, someone like Engr. Habu Gumel can best be honored as a living Legend now that he is with us than when he passes on.

President of the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation who just arrived from America where he went for a befitting programme, said the championship is aimed at discovering new talents that will take over from the retiring ones.

According to him, many good ones are quitting the sports due to old age while others are moving into coaching.

And as a serious, Federation, there is an urgent need to replace them in order not to creat a vacuum. All we need now is a pool of young, vibrant and energetic lifters that will stand the taste of time.
Hence the reason for keeping his hands into his pockets to ensure that this competition is held before the year 2024 runs out.

Besides, there lots of international Championships stirring us in the face next (2025) and we need a real formidable team to face those challenges.

“You can see lifters performance in this event coupled to the first class organization we are witnessing these three days. That is how things are supposed to be done.

So for weightlifting under my leadership and care, the sky is just the beginning. All I keep craving for is for all the stakeholders ( referees and coaches) to play their roles effectively so that together , we will get to where we are going.

There are going to be more domestic championships next year, including the 2nd edition of Engr. Habu Ahmed Gumel National open among others.

Meanwhile, the maiden Engr. Gumel National Championship can be described as huge success as turned out to be the gathering of all the who is who in
Nigeria Weightlifting.Scene.

These include, Alhaji Sir Chidi Ejiogu, 1st Vice President Weightlifting Federation of Africa (WFA) and Former President Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF) Chibudem Nwuche, Former President NWF Mohammed Abdullahi, Deputy Secretary General Nigeria Olympic Committee, Hon . Daniel Igali, Bayelsa State Commissioner for Sports, Hon. Muhammad Salis Gamawa, Air Commodore Rahinatu Garba, Dr. Hassan Sadidiq, Dr. Joy Madaki of NIS and Barr, Amos Dushu among others.

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Honourable Ukah Reelected As Captain Of Ibori Golf And Country Club

In a remarkable event of the day, Director General of the Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency, Honourable Patrick Ukah has been reelected as the Captain of the Ibori Golf and Country Club (IGGC) in Asaba, Delta State, for the second time.

Honourable Ukah’s reelection came up during the Annual General Meeting of IGGC 2024 held on Sunday, February 2nd, 2025.

In his speech, Honourable Ukah feels excited and honour to be reelected into the prestigious position.

He said: “I’m thrilled to share that I’ve been re-elected as Captain of the Ibori Golf and Country Club (IGGC) in Asaba, Delta State, for the second time.

“As the Director General of the Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency, I’m committed to driving innovation and growth in our state. In my role as Captain of IGGC, I promise to bring more excitement and development to the club, building on the progress we’ve made so far.

“I’m grateful for the trust and support of our members, and I look forward to working together to take IGGC to even greater heights.”

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Robotics Championships: NSC Boss, Youth Minister Unite To Keep Nigerian Youth Engaged

National Sports Commission Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko was joined by Minister of Youth Development Ayodele Olawande at the the FirstLego League (FLL) National Robotics Championship 2025 organized with the support of the Federal Ministry of Education. at the indoor sports hall of the MKO Abiola National Stadium Abuja.

The sport showcases robot designs by students. This season’s theme ‘submerged’ challenged
participants to explore the depths of the ocean and create solutions for the challenges faced by professionals in underwater environments.

By engaging with this theme, students developed robot designs and projects that reflect the unique conditions of ocean exploration, fostering problem-solving skills and a deeper understanding of marine science and technology.

There were demonstrations as the organizers showcased the sport to NSC Chairman and Minister of Youth Development highlighting the scoring systems and the intellectual challenges for the contestants as well as the potentials outcome to their career!

Dikko said, “I have been told that only one country has made this sport (robotics) an official sport. We will work with the organizers so that Nigeria could become the second country if all the parameters are right as this would get our youths engaged and help us to create the sports economy. It falls within our vision of harnessing the numerous potentials inherent in our youths through sports.”

Yewande’s words, “I have always advocated that every youth should have more than one skill. When we have somebody like Mallam Shehu Dikko at NSC it is much easier to create these opportunities for our youths. We will keep collaborating to take our youths off the streets and get them meaningfully engaged.”

The championship which lasts from January 26 to 30 will feature displays and demonstrations of robot building and design, programming, computational thinking, project research, time management, and teamwork. During the competition, a panel of judges, composed of industry professionals, will assess and score the students based on standard rubrics, including the core values of the First LegoLeague and First Tech Challenge programs.

Winners will earn the opportunity to represent Nigeria at international competitions in America, Europe, Asia, and South America, continuing their learning journey and contributing to the global conversation on innovation.

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NBBF Releases Programme Of Activities For 2025

The Nigeria Basketball Federation has released a comprehensive programme of activities for 2025, coming on the heels of its board meeting held earlier in January, 2025.

The programmes of basketball activities which was ratified by the board of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), led by its President Engr. Ahmadu Musa Kida, has been termed by stakeholders and enthusiasts as ‘Consolidation Time’.

Beginning from February 5-9, 2025, the Nigeria Senior Female Basketball team, D’Tigress are expected to feature in a friendly invitational tournament billed for Belarus; February 17-25, 2025, would see the D’Tigers participate in the 2025 FIBA AFRO Basket qualifiers taking place in Tripoli, Libya.

Activities for March, 2025, include the 1st Phase of NBBF Divisions 1&2 2024 season; Finals of NBBF Divisions 1&2 2024 season, as well as, the 1st Phase Women Zenith Bank league Division 1. Also, there would be the NBBF Annual General Meeting (AGM) and stakeholders Forum, to hold between February/March at a venue to be decided.

April 2025, begins with BAL Season 5, with Nigeria’s representatives Rivers Hoppers competing with other 11 teams in the championship holding respectively in Rabat, Morocco; Dakar, Senegal; Kigali, Rwanda and Pretoria, South Africa.

Also in April 2025, there would be refresher courses for Technical Officials, in Lagos and Abuja. The 1st Phase of NBBF Men Premier Basketball League would hold across the country; there also would be the 1st Phase of Zenith Bank Women Premier league in

two conferences.

Activities for May-June 2025, includes the 1st Phase U19 Girls National camps in Nigeria/USA, for the World championship; followed by the National U16 & U18 Boys and Girls championship; the NBBF Board Meeting would also hold during this period.

This period would also have the 2nd Phase of NBBF Men’s Premier Basketball League; 2nd Phase of Zenith Bank Premier Women league; as well as, national camp for U16 boys and girls, and FIBA Zone 3 U16 African Championship qualifiers (Boys & Girls).

Between July- August, 2025, D’Tigress would open camp in Nigeria/USA for the FIBA Women’s Afro Basket 2025; followed by the National U19 Girls; And in July 25th – August 3rd, 2025, D’Tigress would be in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire to compete for the FIBA Women’s Afro Basket and Zenith Bank Women’s Premier league Conference finals would also hold.

FIBA Men’s Afrobasket 2025, also holds 12th-24th August in Luanda, Angola, there would be also, the NBBF Men’s Premier league Conference finals and the FIBA African U16 championship (Boys & Girls)

September, 2025, begins with finals of State preliminaries for Total National Division 2 championship; also in the month, there would be the NBBF Men’s Basketball League Final 8; Zenith Bank National Division 1, female national league eliminations.

In October 2025, the NBBF Board Meeting would hold and also the Zenith Bank Women’s Premier league finals. There shall be also the 1st Phase of BAL Qualifiers and FIBA Africa 3 AWBL Qualifiers.

November-December, 2025, begins with the Total National Divisions 1&2 league Divisional playoffs; knockout phase of the 2027 FIBA Men’s World Cup. And then in December, 2025, we shall have the Total National Division 2 Conference playoffs; Elite 16 BAL Qualifiers 2025; FIBA AWBL 2025 finals; Total National Division 1&2 league finals; the NBBF AGM and Awards Night and lastly, the NBBF Board Meeting.