Sports
Coaches In Lagos, Kano Narrates Coaching Experience
Participants in the just-concluded English Premier League, British Council Premier Skill’s project have commended the organisers of the project for giving them opportunity to enhance their skills.
The Premier Skills project ended recently after 13 years of training coaches in Lagos and Kano. Narrating his experience from the Premier Skills programme, Emmanuel Okere, a level one trained coach/educator said he explored the project to reform the lives of hundreds of touts and students in his Orile community.
According to him, “After the success of the training and phases of our project delivery, we were screened from 48 to 20 to participate in the mentorship coaching course delivered by qualified coaches from the English Premier League.
“At the conclusion of the training in 2014, we were given some grants to identify one issue in our community and employ the power of sports to address it.
“When I looked around my community, Coker Orile axis, Lagos, the students always engaged in inter-school fighting, while some others bullied their mates or gambled etc. So, we established a football club named Treasure FC, which we used to train the youths on leadership and life skills, as well as football at Coker Sports complex.
“The project accommodated both male and female youngsters of every ethnic group in Orile. The club helped them to socialise, interact and unite everyone.
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.