Sports
Medalist Lauds Athletes Performances At NSF
Silver medalist at the 2011 All Africa Games (AAG), in Mozambique, Isa Adam has commended the skills being exhibited by athletes at the on-going 18th National Sports Festival (NSF).
Adam made this remark during an interview with The Tidesports last Saturday at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, Lagos venue of the taekwondo event.
He added that with what he had seen at the on-going sports festival, the prospect for the sport in the country was very bright.
“I am thrilled by the skills being exhibited by our athletes since the beginning of the NSF. It is an indication that the future is bright for taekwondo in Nigeria,” he said.
Adam, who also participated in the Beijing 2008 and the London 2012 Olympic Games, noted that athletes and officials were now conversant with the current electronic devices being used in the NSF.
He stressed that the development will not make the athletes feel out of place when they participate in international competitions.
The coast is clear that our athletes and officials can confidently identify and apply the current electronic devices which will boost their profile in international tournaments,” he added.
Adams, however, advised the National Sports Commission (NSC) to ensure that budding taekwondoists with exceptional talents should be properly groomed and not discarded, after the
NSF.
“Exposure is very important in the life of an athlete because that is the major means to develop them and bring out the best in them,” he said.
Meanwhile in the feather weight male category which ended last Friday night, Akpah Adekola (Niger) won gold, Adam Hussaini (Borno) silver, while Mohammed Isaq (Kano) and Anthony Peter (Oyo) clinched the bronze medals.
In the female category, Jerry Lois (Nasarawa) got the gold, Constance Osaigbovo (Edo) silver, while Aramide Opeyemi (Lagos) and Basirat Muritala (Ogun) both won bronze medals.
The feather male category had Olusola Segun (Rivers) winning the gold medal, Nnochiri Samuel, (Osun) silver, while Aliko Mohammed (Yobe) and Umar Ibrahim (Kaduna) got bronze medals.
The Bayelsa State government, yesterday, announced that the marathon will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
The inaugural race is owned by the Bayelsa State Government and will be organised by Nilayo Sports Management Limited, a sports management company.
Under the theme “The Reveal,” the race represents a bold unveiling of Bayelsa’s immense human and cultural potential to the international community, inviting the world to witness the resilience, grit, and talent rooted in the heart of the Niger Delta.
According to the organisers, the race will be flagged off at 9:30 a.m., at the Opolo Roundabout, guiding participants through a carefully designed 10-kilometre route that highlights the scenic beauty and vibrant atmosphere of Yenagoa.
The course will culminate at Peace Park Square, where athletes will cross the finish line into a grand celebration of endurance, unity, and community spirit.
To elevate the experience for runners and spectators alike, the finish venue will host a high-energy post-race concert featuring performances from top A-list artistes, blending sport and entertainment in a festival-style atmosphere.
The organisers directed all registered participants to collect their race bibs and kits at the designated Peace Park Square between March 30 and April 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.
The race, according to them, is currently on track for World Athletics accreditation, underscoring the commitment of both the Bayelsa State Government and Nilayo Sports Management Limited to delivering an event that meets the highest global standards.
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, on Friday continued the Commission’s nationwide appreciation tour with a visit to Abeokuta, where outstanding junior athlete, Majekodunmi Afusat Bisola, was presented with a cheque of N3 million.
The presentation forms part of the NSC’s initiative to recognise and reward exceptional junior athletes who distinguished themselves in 2025 and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s medal haul.
Majekodunmi delivered an impressive run of performances on the track. At the last edition of the National Sports Festival, she stormed to gold in the 400m and the 4x400m relay. She replicated the double triumph at the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Junior Championship, in Abeokuta, before emerging as one of the standout stars at the African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola.
Speaking during the presentation, Olopade explained that the Commission deemed it necessary to extend financial appreciation to grassroots athletes after elite performers had earlier received grants running into thousands of dollars.
“A few weeks ago, after paying grants to our elite athletes, we agreed tthere was a need to also appreciate these young, budding talents who made Nigeria proud last year,” he said.
He disclosed that of the 376 medals recorded by Nigerian athletes in 2025, more than 200 were won by grassroots talents, underscoring the importance of sustained investment in youth development.
-
News1 day agoPolice Arrest Nigerian, Two Others For Kidnapping In Edo
-
Business22 hours agoNERC Amends Order on Meter Tampering, Power Bypass For Discos
-
Business22 hours agoNigeria, AFC sign $1.3 billion deal to build alumina refinery
-
Rivers22 hours agoKENPOLY Rector Promises To Prioritise Students’ Welfare
-
Nation1 day agoPerm Sec Explains Success Of FGM Elimination Programme In Rivers
-
News1 day agoNDLEA Arrests Ex-Councillor With 40kg Skunk, Recovers Drugs In Diapers
-
Rivers22 hours agoDon, Stakeholders Urge Environmental Laws In N’Delta
-
Rivers22 hours agoADIAFRICA Flags-off Free Eye Screening Outreach In PH