1 month ago
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By Johnbosco Agbakwuru
Nigeria took a important measurement towards hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games, arsenic it welcomed the Commonwealth Sport Bid Evaluation Committee to Abuja connected Thursday.
President Bola Tinubu, represented by his Chief of Staff, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, formally received the delegation astatine the Presidential Villa.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s committedness to hosting an inclusive, diverse, and world-class 2030 Commonwealth Games connected African soil.
Gbajabiamila, on with a beardown national authorities squad of Ministers and precise elder authorities officials, held strategical talks with the delegation led by Darren Hall, Director of Games and Assurance astatine Commonwealth Sport, and a subordinate of the 2030 Evaluation Commission.
President Tinubu emphasised that the Commonwealth champions unity and diversity, and Africa deserves its infinitesimal aft astir a century.
Africa has ne'er hosted the Games since their inception successful 1930. Nigeria made an unsuccessful bid to big the 2014 Games.
The metropolis of Durban successful South Africa won the bid to big the 2022 Games, but could not bash truthful owed to fiscal difficulties. Birmingham successful the UK took implicit and hosted the Games.
Thus, Nigeria’s bid to big the 2030 Games would beryllium historic.
In his invited remarks, Gbajabiamila called connected the visitors to savour Nigeria’s renowned hospitality, “You’re precise invited to Nigeria. I anticipation you bask our large hospitality, which we are known for. Mr
President besides asked maine personally to convey his regards; helium afloat supports this bid.”
“The President has written a Letter of Guarantee to you; his afloat value is down this bid.”
“What I tin guarantee you is that we’re ready. We’re willing, we’re able, and we really privation this. It’s been astir 100 years. The games person not been held connected immoderate ungraded successful Africa.
”The constituent of inclusivity is what the Commonwealth is, and we anticipation that volition payment us.”
President Tinubu stressed that his medication has acceptable immoderate bold reforms to reposition sports, having realised its relation arsenic a strategical operator of nationalist development.
He added that helium scrapped the Ministry of Sports and replaced it with the National Sports Commission successful the bid to thrust sports development.
The President further assured the delegation that each infrastructural, security, and hospitality needs volition beryllium met up of schedule.
He emphasised that Nigeria’s bid is not conscionable astir hosting but besides leaving a bequest for younker and nationalist development.
Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the National Sports Commission, made a beardown lawsuit for Nigeria implicit India, stressing that Africa has 22 Commonwealth nations, and Nigeria, arsenic the continent’s giant, deserves the honour.
“One happening I privation to guarantee you is that the President sees the hosting of the Commonwealth Games successful 2030, if we triumph the bid, arsenic a solemnisation of the country’s increasing unit successful sports, beyond conscionable participation.”
Habu Gumel, President of Commonwealth Sport Nigeria, said the state is acceptable to big an environmentally sustainable Games.
Mainasara Illo, Chairman of the Bid Committee, presented Nigeria’s proposal, highlighting cardinal plans and innovations.
He revealed that Nigeria proposes 15 sports, with shot introduced to boost excitement, planetary visibility, and assemblage engagement.
Darren Hall, Director of Games and Assurance, thanked President Tinubu and the Nigerian squad for their lukewarm welcome.
“I person been astir thrilled by the passionateness of the Nigerian radical successful each their endeavours, including sports.”
He said the Commonwealth, present comprising 56 nations, aims for greater diverseness arsenic it approaches its 100-year milestone.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammed Idris, Minister of Aviation, Festus Kayamo, Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa and Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Gaidam, attended the gathering and made statements successful enactment of the bid.
Nigeria and India are the 2 authoritative bidders for the 2030 Games, with Abuja and Ahmedabad, successful Gujarat, arsenic their projected big cities....
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