Sports
What Makes It Children’s Day?
Such is the circle of life. It begins with ignorance, vulnerability and dependency, and blossoms into strife of self-reliance, hardwork and proper planning for the unknown. Any then, actual adulthood then graduates into old age, when the old man becomes a child, once more. So, when such adults retrospect annually on the miles covered and steps taken, it becomes meaningless if such retrospection fails to conjure a deliberate need for assessment of challenges faced and surmounted, successes recorded, demands yet unfulfilled and indeed plans for years to come. In all, the biggest and most worthy investment is the child
That exactly is what the state owes the family every May 27, Children’s Day, a day primarily intended to evaluate the quality of attention given to the child and resolve to improve on sour sides, strengthen weak links and project better for another set of children. This is because, the quality of childhood the state moulds, is indeed what will colour its future.
If a government official thinks only about the future well-being of his or her own biological children and allows several others to wallow in want, depend on deadly streets for survival and fail to acquire the right education to journey into adulthood, the fortunes of the government official are at big risk. Others who started as dependants on the street either as beggars or pick-pockets often graduated into armed robbers or real threat to society, and their targets would be the haves.
This is partly why responsible and socially responsive governments all over the world, articulate programmes and policies necessary to give every child with a sound educational foundation, the indigent nature of parents notwithstanding. The Universal Basic Education (UBE) project was fashioned for similar reasons. In fact, renown statesmen are agreed that next in importance to freedom and justice is proper education, without which neither can thrive successfully.
Fourty five years after, what has Rivers State done? What is the present government doing? How effective are what they are doing? What projections into the future? What are the government’s short, medium and long-term projections in handling child-education, child health, child care and protection and most importantly, laying for today’s children, a foundation that helps launch them into a qualitative adulthood free from crime and off the streets, as home?
As we mark Children’s Day today, we must go beyond the usual match past and parties and find answers to these questions. It is then and only then that we would have captured the import of the Day.
Victor Osimhen will be the centre of attention as several of Europe’s biggest clubs send scouts to yesrerday’s Intercontinental Derby between Galatasaray and Fenerbahce, with the Nigerian forward set to play a decisive role in the Super Lig title race
Representatives from Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Arsenal and Juventus were expected to be present at Rams Park, underlining the scale of interest in both the fixture and its standout performers.
Reports in Turkish media indicate that the derby will serve not only as a key moment in the domestic title race but also as a platform for transfer discussions and strategic collaborations between clubs.
According to those reports, top European sides have secured places at the stadium with a dual purpose.
“Europe’s leading representatives will be present at the stadium within the framework of both player transfer and cooperation,” ,” Milliyet reported.
“Real Madrid, Barcelona, among many clubs, including Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Napoli and Juventus, have made reservations for today’s match.”
Osimhen was expected to be among the primary players under observation, alongside teammates Baris Yilmaz and Gabriel Sara, with scouts closely monitoring their performances in one of the most high-profile fixtures in Turkish football.
The report further noted, “Victor Osimhen, Yilmaz and Sara were at the top of the watch list and that the interest would mainly be in these players.”
It also highlighted broader discussions beyond player recruitment, stating, “Apart from this, ideas will be exchanged for strengthening relations between the clubs and new joint agreements.”
The Nigerian striker’s presence came at a crucial point in the season, with Galatasaray holding a four-point lead over second-placed Fenerbahce and knowing that victory would all but secure the league title with three matches remaining.
Osimhen recently returned from injury, making a brief appearance in the cup defeat to Genclerbirligi after missing four games, a period during which Galatasaray’s form showed signs of inconsistency.
His absence coincided with a mixed run of results in April, where the league leaders recorded two wins, one draw and one defeat, including a loss to Trabzonspor and a draw at home to Kocaelispor.
Defensively, Galatasaray have also shown vulnerability, conceding in each of their last six matches across all competitions, a concern ahead of a fixture that could define their campaign.
The derby follows disappointment in the Turkish Cup, where Galatasaray suffered a shock 2-0 home defeat to Genclerbirligi, while Fenerbahce were also knocked out after a 1-0 loss to Konyaspor
A tennis tournament held in honour of Olusola Odumosu, Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps FCT Command, has been described as a major step towards grassroots sports development and youth engagement.
The three-day competition, staged at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, began midweek , last week and ended on Friday, attracting young players across different categories.
On the court, top-ranked player Canice Abua won the men’s singles title after a hard-fought 7-5, 6-4 victory over Lucky Danjuma, who is ranked fourth nationally.
In the boys’ category, Unity Alex defeated Khaleed Dalha in straight sets to win the title, while Salvation Alex triumphed over Opeyemi Olademeji to win the girls’ singles event.
Odumosu, who marked his birthday with the event, said the initiative was designed to uncover young talent and strengthen the foundation of tennis development in Nigeria.
Nigeria’s U-17 women’s team, the Flamingos, opened their preparations for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers with a dominant 6-0 victory over Generation Next in Abuja as head coach Akeem Ishola Busari continues to shape his squad.
The emphatic win came during a 60-minute friendly at the Goal Project at the weekend, where the Flamingos took control early and led 4-0 at half-time before the match was halted in the 54th minute due to heavy rain.
Goals were spread across the squad, with Shavih Istifanus opening the scoring inside the first minute, followed by a brace from Tobiloba Sarafa in the 10th and 23rd minutes.
Harmony Chidi added the fourth in the 28th minute, while Aminat Adebisi struck just before half-time and Precious Paul completed the scoring early in the second half.
The match forms part of a busy training camp in Abuja, where Busari has invited 36 players as Nigeria step up preparations for their second-round qualifier against Guinea.
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