Stakeholders in the Nigerian gymnastics community have condemned the recent media publication credited to  Kelvin Erhunmwunse, President of the  Gymnastics Federation of Nigeria (GFN), describing his comments against the  Director-General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, as a deliberate act of blackmail aimed at diverting attention from his own illegitimate election and leadership failures.

According to credible sources within the sport, Mr. Kelvin’s recent outburst is a reactionary attempt to discredit the Sports Commission after its refusal to endorse his controversial third-term election, which has been widely condemned by stakeholders as a sham, riddled with malpractice, exclusion, and gender bias.

The flawed election, conducted under questionable circumstances, allegedly disenfranchised key constituencies including the National Association of Women in Sports (NAWIS), the Nigeria Association for Physical and Health Education, Recreation, Sports and Dance (NAPHER-SD), and the Paramilitary constituency, thereby violating the democratic structure of the Federation.

Stakeholders lamented that the GFN President – whose administration has been marked by poor inclusivity, gender discrimination, and stagnation in athlete development, now want to use media blackmail to malign the NSC DG simply because the Commission refused to validate his unlawful process.

One of the Key stakeholders in the Nigeria Gymnastics family and foremost Sports administrator Omowunmi Olalere said, “It is both ironic and hypocritical for a man who conducted a kangaroo election that silenced women and constitutional representatives to accuse the Sports Commission of interference,”.

“This is a calculated blackmail meant to pressure the DG into legitimizing an election that has already lost credibility.”

The stakeholders further commended Hon. Bukola Olopade, describing him as a reform-driven administrator committed to transparency, equity, and global best practices in sports governance.

They stated that the DG’s insistence on credible, inclusive, and accountable elections across all federations reflects President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to restore integrity and professionalism to Nigeria’s sports sector.

The stakeholders however called on all meaning Sports loving Nigerians including the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), and the International Gymnastics Community to  stand by the NSC as it works to restore due process and fairness in Nigerian sports.

They insisted that Gymnastics in Nigeria can only thrive under transparent leadership and credible governance not under blackmail and manipulation and the  DG’s stand for integrity must be Commended and not attacked.

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By Amaechi Agbo

Abeokuta, Nigeria – The Enugu State Government is proposing to host the 23^rd edition of the National Sports Festival (NSF) in September next year.

Chairman, National Sports Commission, Alhaji Shehu Dikko disclosed this on Sunday during a world press conference to update Nigerians and the global community on the ongoing 22^nd edition of the festival in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Responding to a question asked by a journalist, Amaechi Agbo on the date of the next festival, the NSC Chairman noted that the Commission is streamlining the festival to hold in November/December every Sports Festival year.

Mr Dikko also expressed optimism on Enugu State’s readiness to host the “Nigerian Olympic Games” stressing that the Commission is in regular talk with the state about the hosting.

“We are working on streamlining the National Sports Festival to hold in November/December during the Festival year. We need to have a standard in this regard to help us maintain the festival. Apart from that, hosting it during November/December will help us to avoid bad weather due to rain.

“Enugu State is ready to host the next edition of the festival nest year. In fact, they are proposing to host in September and that tells you their preparedness. We are in regular touch with the state and we will continue to work collaboratively to ensure that the standard set in Ogun is improved upon,” he said.

On awarding the hosting rights to states ahead of time, the NSC chairman stated that states are already bidding to host the 2028 and 2030 editions of the Festival adding that the commission will announce the hosts for the next two editions after Enugu 2026, very soon.

The Federal Government and the Enugu State Government signed the hosting rights agreement in January and the state Governor, Barr Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah declared the state’s readiness to revamp sporting facilities in the state and host a world class festival.

“As you know, we like to be a role model as a state that gained pre-eminence over 115 years ago. We will not want to let our forebears down. We will live up to that standard.

“We have already set forth at dawn. Immediately that announcement was made, we mobilised our team. We are already working on revamping the Awgu Games Village and a whole lot. We have decided to deliver a brand new Games Village. We are also completely renovating the stadium to brand new.

“We are making sure that by the time you come here by the end of this year, you are going to be highly impressed. It is not revamping, rebranding or re-equipping, but we are also going to build additional facilities to the existing one. We are looking forward to having a word-class experience befitting the sports men and women, making our hosting a lifelong memory and experience,” he stated.

The State government has earmarked over 13 Billion for renovation of facilities including the Nnamdi Azitiwe Stadium and Awgu Games Village ahead of the 23^rd edition of the National Sports Festival.

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Enugu State Team has recorded its first gold medal at the ongoing 2024 National Sports Festival in Ogun State.

The gold medal was won by Emmanuel Ugonna in the Javelin para-athletics event on Friday. Competing in the F44 in javelin, Ugonna threw a distance of 51.35 meters to win the gold medal. His feat also created a national record as not para-athlete have had such feat before.

In javelin, F44 is a Paralympic class for athletes with moderately affected movement in one or both legs

The gold medal will spur team Enugu athletes to go for more exploits as other games  start at the 22^nd edition of the “Nigerian Olympics”

The post BREAKING NEWS: Enugu State Wins First Gold Medal at Gateway Games appeared first on ESUT Monitor.

Kano State contingent at the 22nd edition of the National Sports Festival (NSF) in Ogun State began their campaign on bright note after their weightlifting athletes amassed five medals in weightlifting event.on Monday

 Jegede Temidayo Adunni won  three medals comprising two silver and a bronze in the 55kg women category of the weightlifting event.

Jegede who showed determination and poise clinched silver in snatch with 77kg lift, picked bronze in clean & jerk with 98kg lift and also won silver in total with a combined 175kg lift.

Speaking  with the media shortly after her heroics, Jegede Temidayo dedicated her medals to God and her coaches in the Kano State Weightlifting Associatiom for their support. She added that the feat would spur her to do more going forward.

“I am delighted with the medals and I dedicate them to God and my coaches for their support. Of course, the target was to win gold, but when you aim for the moon and you miss it, you land among the stars.

“These medals will encourage me to aim higher and work harder in the future,” he said.

The medalist lauded the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF) for their efforts in promoting the game and encouraging athletes to showcase their talents.

Adamma Dorcas won two other bronze medals for Team Kano in 49kg women category to bring Team Kano’s total medal to five thus far.

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Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has officially approved the composition of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the 23rd National Sports Festival, tagged “Enugu 2026”.

Daniel Onwuegbulam, Director of Information, Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Enugu State disclosed this on Monday in a statement in Enugu.

According to the statement, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Lloyd Ekweremadu is the Chairman of the committee.

Onwuegbulam added that other members included seasoned professionals with extensive experience in sports administration, event management, and youth development.

They include Bamiduro Olumide, a sports management expert and former National Badminton champion, as Secretary General.

Mary Onyali, former world-class athlete with extensive international sporting experience; Aku Akazu, a lawyer and sports management expert.

Others are Victor Okorie, elite athlete representative and member of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, and Blessing Ekwe, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria and FIFA-licensed agent.

Also, Davidson Owumi, current COO of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) and former General Manager of Enugu Rangers Football Club were in the list.

Also on the committee are Tony Ugwu, Chairman, Enugu State Football Association and Henry Okorie – Executive Member of the Nigeria Olympic Committee and Chairman of the Nigerian Athletics Commission.

Others are Jonathan Nnaji, President of the Nigeria’s Modern Pentathlon Federation, Vice President of the Africa Modern Pentathlon Confederation and Executive Board Member of the Nigeria Olympic Committee.

Boniface Onovo and Ephraim Ochonma, Directors of Organizing and Coaching respectively, represent the Enugu State Ministry of Youth and Sports.

Obiora Obasi, Technical Assistant to the Commissioner, Enugu State Ministry of Youth and Sports completes the list.

According to the director, the state government expressed its full confidence in the ability of the committee to organise and deliver an outstanding National Sports Festival.

“Their leadership will play a crucial role in fostering athletic excellence, promoting national unity, and driving economic development through sports,” the statement said.

Onwuegbulam said that the commissioner had already expressed confidence in the ability of the committee to do a great job by organising a festival of international standard.

“With their expertise and our government’s unwavering support, ‘Enugu 2026’ will be an extraordinary event that leaves a lasting legacy, ” Ekweremmadu said.

The National Sports Commission (NSC) last year awarded Enugu State the hosting right of the 2026 National Sports Festival.

SUN Credited

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