The Chairman House Committee on Sports, Hon. Ekene Adams has donated N20 million to eight Kaduna clubs in preparation for their participation in the 2023/2024 Nigeria Nationwide League (NLO).
The Member, who represents Chikun Federal Constituency, said the money is aimed at supporting the clubs’ preparation for the new season, while he tasked sports stakeholders in the state to support the clubs and ensure that the champion of the new season emerge from the group.
Hon. Adams, who commended Team Nigeria’s performance at the last All African Games in Accra, Ghana, where the nation came second behind Egypt, expressed optimism that the monetary award promised the team for the medals won in Ghana would soon be paid.
He added that building on the AAG performance ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics in France, Nigeria is on the cusp of achieving record performance at the quadrennial Games.
“We have eight teams in Kaduna state that are preparing to compete in the NLO, I have given them N20 million for their preparation for the new NLO season. I have no plan to form a football club to play in the NPL because I don’t want to be partial but I tasked football stakeholders in Kaduna state to see how a champion can emerge from the eight teams that we gave in the NNL. They should try to see how one of them can emerge champion and play in the NNL next season.
“I must say congratulations to Team Nigeria and the sports fraternity. The administrator, Sports Minister did very well, he is doing everything possible to see that athletes are paid, I believe, after this holiday. The athletes will get their rewards soon.”
Speaking on the Team Nigeria preparation for the Paris 2024 Olympics, Hon. Ekene said, “the team have done well, we need to motivate the athletes by paying all backlog of allowances. I believe the Minister of Sports wants to supersede the record he met. We are going to do everything possible to have a good outing and achieve our best.”
The House Committee Chairman on Sports said his proposed sports academy is on course, noting that he has discussed with Kaduna state governor and a land has been made available to him. He said work would soon progress on the project.
