Sports

Dutse Gets Royal Golf Course

Published

12 years ago

August 11, 2014

From all indications,
eco-tourism in Nigeria is bound to receive a remarkable boost with the establishment of the Royal Golf Course and Nature Park in Dutse, the capital of Jigawa State.
The golf course and nature park, which is located about three kilometres from Dutse, is the brainchild of the Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Muhammadu Sunusi.
Tourism experts say that the nature park would boost efforts to promote ecotourism in the country and stem travels to famous ecotourism destinations in countries like South Africa, Kenya and Tanzania.
They describe nature park as a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation, while providing special opportunities for sightseeing, study or research.
As regards the Royal Golf Course and Nature Park in Dutse, Sunusi said that that it was established as part of his designed efforts to develop Jigawa State and boost the country’s tourism potential.
Observers describe the emir’s decision to set up the golf course and nature park as very pragmatic, as tourists from all over the country now come to the park, either to play golf or have a good time.
Even people from countries like Niger Republic, Mali, Chad, Cameroon, Benin Republic and Ghana now visit the park for vacation, they add.
Sunusi said that the Royal Golf Course and Nature Park is a natural environment which consists of a golf course, a nature park and an amusement garden.
He explained that the nature park is home to a variety of wildlife and aquaculture.
“The wild animals in the park include spring duck, deer, camel, antelope and ostrich, while the aquatic creatures include crocodile and different species of fish, among others,’’ he adds.
Sunusi also said that the golf course has a network of roads which traverse the entire area.
The emir concedes that he once had some problems in getting adequate water to make the golf course to remain lush all year round, adding that this compelled him to construct earth dams around the course.
“The idea here is simple; if the dams could trap and harvest rainwater at least twice a year, there would be enough water to water the course for a whole year,’’ he says, adding: “And the arrangement is working quite fine.’’
The emir says that 42 earth dams were constructed in the entire area to provide water for the animals and the vegetation throughout the year.
He says that eight boreholes were also constructed in the area to provide additional water for the flora and fauna.
He says that over 60,000 species of trees were planted in the golf course and nature park, which covers a total area of 120 hectares of land, fully fenced.
On the golf course, Sunusi said that it has 18 holes — the international standard — with “putting greens’’ (luxuriant green carpet-grass) planted on it.
He disclosed that plans are underway to construct additional nine holes to complement the existing 18 holes of the golf course, adding that the extra holes would make it one of the biggest golf courses in the world.
The emir says that the golf course and nature park has 22 permanent workers and 40 casual workers working in various departments.
He expatiates that the park also has a standard club house, with reception, cafeteria and changing rooms as well as a banquet hall.
Sunusi, however, says that there plans to build a first-class hotel and a theme park for tourists in the park.
He also said that plans are underway to establish a Golf Academy to train young people who are aspiring to become professional golfers.
He, nonetheless, solicits the collaboration of the Nigerian Tourism Development Commission (NTDC) and other stakeholders in efforts to boost the tourism potential of the area and attract investors.
Sunusi explained that Jigawa State is endowed with a lot of tourism resources that have yet to tapped, adding that the favorable weather conditions of the state will also aid efforts to transform the state into a good tourist destination.
All the same, analysts underscore the need for all stakeholders in the tourism sector to encourage all innovative plans to develop the vast tourism resources of the country.
They also emphasise that pragmatic efforts should be made to specifically encourage investors like the Emir of Dutse, who are striving to develop the ecotourism sub-sector of the country’s tourism industry.

Sports

Recommended NFF Normalisation Committee Members Fail FIFA Test?

Published

1 week ago

November 2, 2026

The Tide

The Normalisation Committee to spearhead major reform in Nigerian football has yet to be announced because several of the committee members recommended did not scale the FIFA integrity test.

The NFF announced in an official statement on October 22 that world football governing body FIFA have approved a Normalisation Committee to reorganise football in the country following the resignation of the NFF executive committee led by Ibrahim Gusau.

The statement pointed out that the committee members will be jointly appointed by FIFA and CAF.

Since then not much has been reported on this development.

A top source has now informed that the delay in the announcement of this committee has been held back because several of the

proposed members did not pass the integrity test conducted by FIFA.

“Some of those recommended for the committee did not pass the FIFA test, that is partly why the committee is not yet in place, ” a top source said.

“However, I wouldn’t want to give out the names of those who did not scale through.”

It was further gathered that the committee will have between seven and nine members with strong indications that there could be as many as two non-Nigerians on it.

Meanwhile, a former NFF general secretary as well as a one-time highly influential NFF executive committee member are among those lobbying to head the Normalisation Committee.

The committee will be expected to round up by May 31, 2027.

Sports

Olopade Insists 2026 NSF Will Hold

Published

1 week ago

November 2, 2026

The Tide

The Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade, has insisted that the 23rd National Sports Festival will hold as scheduled, with key facilities in Enugu nearing completion ahead of the November 28 opening ceremony.

Olopade gave the assurance after inspecting the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium and other venues earmarked for the event in the Coal City. He expressed satisfaction with the progress of work and said funding and equipment for the festival had been secured as preparations enter the final phase.

He disclosed that the swimming pool would be ready by November 18.

“In the coming days, the tartan track will be laid, and buses to move the athletes are ready,” he said.

Responding to suggestions that the festival could be postponed, Olopade criticised the speculation and said the authorities had already made their position known.

“When Lagos asked for postponement, we came out confidently to tell the public. Heaven did not fall,” he said.

“Suggesting that it will be postponed after announcement from Enugu State and NSC suggests that we are deceiving the nation. Not nice at all.”

The NSC boss also said the Enugu 2026 edition was projected to become the highest-sponsored National Sports Festival in history, with sponsorship expected to reach between ?12bn and ?15bn.

President Bola Tinubu is expected to declare the festival open on November 28, while about 12,000 athletes and officials are scheduled to arrive in Enugu from November 26.

Athletes from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory will compete in various disciplines.

Olopade commended Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, for his commitment to hosting the event, describing the state as a secure and welcoming destination for athletes and other stakeholders.

Sports

Senegal kicks Africa’s First Ever Olympics

Published

1 week ago

November 2, 2026

The Tide

The 2026 Youth Olympic Games, the first Olympics ever to be held on African soil, opened Saturday in the Senegalese capital marking an historic moment for the continent.

Signs proclaiming “Africa welcomes, Dakar celebrates” are abundant across Dakar, which is hosting some 2,665 young competitors aged 14 to 17 from around the world.

The event marks the return of Russian athletes to the Olympics and also includes a refugee team. Overall, the athletes will compete across 25 sports and 153 medal events.

“We’ve got people from around the world that maybe had a very different idea about Africa and they’re going to leave, hopefully, with something really positive in mind”, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry, a former Zimbabwean swimmer, said last week during a press conference in Dakar.

“I think that is really important for our continent”, she said.

Events ranging from athletics to beach wrestling, rugby sevens to breaking, will be held across eight venues in three locations.

Dakar, the nearby suburb of Diamniadio and the beach town of Saly located some 80 kilometres (50 miles) from the capital, will all host events.

An opening ceremony held on Saturday evening in Diamniadio kicked off the Games.

A total of 136 Senegalese athletes will participate in the Youth Olympics, with some 6,000 volunteers from Senegal helping put on the event.

The west African nation is renowned for its sports culture, including its football team, traditional wrestling and surf scene.

Football enthusiasts and young people often organise impromptu matches in the evenings or weekends on the beach or in village squares.

And as the day cools, hundreds of people flock to Dakar’s iconic coastal road, the Corniche, to run, do strength training or take part in group exercise.

While a sense of excitement is being stirred in the capital, the fourth summer edition of the Youth Olympics has struggled to stoke wild enthusiasm across Senegal.

Many are more concerned with the high cost of living, unemployment and economic hardship.

“Once the youth Olympic Games in Senegal begin, Dakar will become the capital of African youth,” Senegal Prime Minister Ahmadou Al Aminou Lo had said in an interview last week.

“Africa hosting the (Youth) Olympic Games, it’s a symbol”, he said.

With the IOC effectively lifting the Russian Olympic Committee’s (ROC) suspension in July, the Youth Games mark the first Olympic competition since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in early 2022 in which Russian athletes are allowed to compete under their own flag and colours.

According to the ROC, 13 Russian athletes will participate and 10 coaches will accompany them to Senegal.

“The kids are excited, it’s good that our legitimate right to participate with the national anthem and Russian flag has been restored”, Anzor Gaunov, who coaches Anastasia Dobrovolskaya in judo, told Tidesports source in Moscow.

However, it is up to each sport’s international federation whether to authorise the Russian athletes’ participation.

The Dakar Youth Games will also welcome a refugee Olympic team, composed primarily of athletes based in Africa.

The IOC has called the Dakar Games an important milestone for the continent and an opportunity to showcase Senegal’s cultural richness and Africa’s growing role within the Olympics.

South Africa could potentially become the first African nation to host the Olympic Games, having already paved the way by hosting the men’s FIFA World Cup in 2010. The country is officially in the running for the 2036 Summer Olympics.