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2022 Commonwealth Games: Queen’s Baton visits Nigeria

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2022 Commonwealth Games: Queen’s Baton visits Nigeria

2022 Commonwealth Games: Queen’s Baton visits Nigeria

Ahead of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, Nigeria received the Queen’s Baton in Abuja.

The Queen’s Baton Relay (QBR) is the traditional curtain raiser for the Games.  It begins when the Baton, containing a message from The Queen, departs from Buckingham Palace on 7 October 2021, and travels through all 72 nations and territories taking part in the Games, serving as a focal point for a programme of activities and media moments. The global journey will conclude at the Birmingham 2022 Opening Ceremony. 

During its three-day visit to Nigeria, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, received the baton on behalf of the President at the Presidential Villa, alongside the British High Commissioner, Catriona Laing, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, and the President of Commonwealth Games Nigeria, Habu Gumel.

Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo said: “As the relay goes from one Commonwealth member-country to another in its journey across several continents, the two billion-strong population of the commonwealth are reminded of the strong bonds of brotherhood and friendship that bind us across these continents, nations, races, tongues, and faiths.” 

As part of activities lined up to commemorate the visit of the baton to Nigeria – the first country in Africa to receive it, the British High Commissioner, Catriona Laing, hosted a reception and awarded a certificate on behalf of the University of Birmingham to the Baton bearer, Abiola Joy Jonathan.

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During the reception, High Commissioner Catriona Laing said:“Birmingham 2022 will be a number of firsts. For example, it will be the first major multi-sport event to award more medals to women than men.  The introduction of women’s T20 cricket for the first time will contribute to a total of 136 medal events for women, as opposed to 134 for men. The games will also have the most extensive para-sports programme in Commonwealth Games history – eight para-sports have now been confirmed.”

President of the Commonwealth Games Nigeria, Engr. Habu Gumel, said: “The Queen’s Baton Relay aligns with the United Nations Development Goals in the areas of equality, diversity and inclusion, job creation, well-being and global sustainability. The baton is also to remind participating countries in the Commonwealth that the Games are around the corner and there is need to commence active preparation.”

Other activities to mark the visit of the Queen’s baton to Nigeria included a sporting and cultural event in Aduvie International School, a National Olympics and Commonwealth Games committee partner school, as well as a relay and boat ride in Jabi Lake and a tour around Abuja.

The Queen’s Baton departed Nigeria to Gambia on 18 October 2021.

2022 Commonwealth Games: Queen’s Baton visits Nigeria

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Dabiri-Erewa Congratulates AJ for Defeating Ngannou

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Dabiri-Erewa Congratulates AJ for Defeating Ngannou

By: Michael Mike

Chairman/ CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri- Erewa has congratulated Anthony Joshua, a British-Nigerian boxer for defeating Francis Ngannou on Friday night in Saudi Arabia.

The NiDCOM boss gave the commendation on Saturday in a statement issued by the Head of Media, Public Relations and Protocol, Abdur- Rahman Balogun.

Dabiri-Erewa said that the victory has brought more glory to Nigeria and has shown what can be achieved by being resilient.

She said: “We are proud of you and urge you to continue to use your professional prowess to extol the virtues of Nigerian heritage.

Anthony Joshua secured his unflinching victory against Ngannou with a destructive second-round knockout at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

This knockout has delivered the most powerful statement to the heavyweight division as he has done what his compatriot Tyson Fury could not do to Francis Ngannou.

Dabiri-Erewa Congratulates AJ for Defeating Ngannou

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Musa to Build School in Kano, other parts of Nigeria

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Musa to Build School in Kano, other parts of Nigeria

By: Michael Mike

The Captain of Super Eagles, Ahmed Musa has revealed his plan to build school in his hometown Kano and other parts of the country.

Musa, who had already built sports academy in Kano, Kaduna, Lagos and Plateau, said his new plan is to build school in Kano, his hometown first and later other parts of Nigeria.

The Team Captain of the silver winning Super Eagles at the just concluded African Nations Cup in Cote D’voire, speaking during a reception by the Chairman/CEO of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa
thanked the NiDCOM Chairman for the kind gesture and for all her support to the Diaspora, especially during the crisis in Sudan.

Musa, in an emotional laden voice, recalled his humble beginning which prompted his generousity to assist the less privileged in the society across the country.

Musa said he wanted to inspire others with his story, especially those that looked down on footballers in the past,

He assured Nigerians that in addition to other executed projects, he plans to establish a school in his hometown, Kano and subsequently expand to other states in Nigeria in the future.

Dabiri-Erewa on her part commended the Super Eagles Captain, Ahmed Musa for being an exemplary Nigerian Diaspora and a great mentor of Nigerians youths.

She noted that the player has heeded to the mandate of being a good ambassador, remembering the country and excelling in the art of football.

She said Ahmed Musa earned the Commission’s maiden National Diaspora Merit Award in the sports category due to his philanthropic gesture and mentoring of the youths.

Dabiri-Erewa said: “We are very proud of you as a Great Soccer Ambassador, Philanthropist and mentor of our younger ones with the building of sports academy in Kano, Kaduna, Lagos and Plateau

“I have always been saying it that success is about how many lives you have touched and Ahmed Musa here have done so much for humanity.”

She re- echoed her congratulatory message to the entire Super Eagles team for coming second in the just concluded AFCON 2023 in Cote Divoire.

Also, the FCT State Diaspora Focal Point Officer, Mrs Sarah Areo, lauded the Nigerian player for his achievement and assured him that the FCT is ready to support his future philanthropic projects especially in Abuja.

Musa to Build School in Kano, other parts of Nigeria

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Dabiri- Erewa Congratulates Anthony Joshua on Victory, Describes it Long Awaited

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Dabiri- Erewa Congratulates Anthony Joshua on Victory, Describes it Long Awaited

By: Michael Mike

Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, (NIDCOM), Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has congratulated British-Nigerian former World heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (AJ) for getting his mojo back by defeating American Jermaine Franklin on Saturday.after successive lost.

Dabiri-Erewa, in a signed statement on Sunday by one of the officials of the Media, Public Relations and Protocol Unit of NIDCOM, Gabriel Odu, expressed joy over the boxing exploits of the two-time World heavyweight champion as he made a victorious comeback to the global boxing books by defeating the American.

Dabiri-Erewa, while describing AJ’s win as a “never- say-never, the I-can-do-spirit of Nigerians anywhere in the world,” added that AJ is a true ambassador at large, making Nigeria super proud and projecting the good image of Nigerians globally.

This is Joshua’s first victory since 2020 after he successively suffered defeats from Oleksandr Usyk.

The 33-year old former World heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, on saturday, returned to the boxing stage with a unanimous points-decision over Jermaine Franklin with the three judges giving the fight to on 118-111, 117-111, 117-111, at London 02 Arena, Saturday.

Dabiri- Erewa Congratulates Anthony Joshua on Victory, Describes it Long Awaited

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