By George Mgbeleke

The Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, has described the Keffi Polo tournament as a force for national unity.

He made the remarks while speaking with journalists at the closing of the 10th Anniversary of the Keffi Polo Tournament held in Keffi, Nasarawa State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sen. Ahmed Wadada (APC-Nasarawa) is the founder of the Keffi Polo Ranch and the organiser of the tournament.

Barau said that the polo would further develop Nigeria’s sporting potentials and unite Nigerians.

He said: “The game is something that is bringing us together. When you look around, you’ll find a lot of people from all parts of this country, Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo and others.

“It is bringing us together. So it’s always a unifying factor that will further strengthen our unity. So i mean it’s something that is good. It also helps to develop our sporting potential which is very good. So it has a lot of advantages,” he said.

Barau, who has been a regular attendee to the tournament, said “I’ve been coming around. I had attended the last four tournaments held. And here we are. And I can see that this year is more organised and very well structured.

“So I give kudos to Sen. Wadada for organising this tournament every year. It’s an event that is helping. The other time I think it was organised in order to raise funds for our kids.

“So much money was gotten. It went a long way to help to develop those indigent children who don’t have much opportunity to go to school.

“He should be encouraged to continue to organise the tournament every year.

“We are ready to support you. We will support you; we will give our financial support and whatever support that you need,” Barau said.

For his part, Chairman Senate Committee on Sports, Sen. Abdul Ningi (PDP-Bauchi) said that the tournament is “now a brand in Nigeria”.

“What is important is to keep encouraging the youth to imbibe the spirit of sportsmanship.

“And also to commend people like Wadada who had spent their personal fortune in bringing about this tournament”.

Ningi while noting that the tournament drew people from various tribes and divides said that sport was indeed a unifying factor.

“We must keep encouraging ourselves. Our differences are very minute against those things that divide us. What I keep telling people and the media is, we must keep bringing out the positive aspects of this country”.

Speaking on sports development in Nigeria, Ningi applauded President Bola Tinubu’s administration saying “he has good intentions”.

“I’m looking at the 2024 Budget provisions, 2025 Budget provisions, if actually utilised, I am sure it will turn around sport development in this country.

“All we can do is to keep encouraging the President. We will also see that whatever approvals coming from the National Assembly, are bringing out the best of sports in Nigeria,” he said.

The founder of the Keffi Polo Ranch, Sen. Wadada who was elated said that the 10th anniversary of the tournament was a milestone.

“I feel highly elated; I feel highly fulfilled and of course, I feel highly challenged for whatever reasons that have brought this army of personalities, VIPs to be here.

“The challenge is, I should do much more of what I had done before so that I have more VIPs the next time,” he said.

Wadada said that though the game of polo when it started in the country wasn’t common but now it is common.

“This is one of the reasons why I established Keffi Polo Ranch so that I bring civilisation to my people and then, of course, leverage on it to open up my state to the rest of the world.

“As you see, the world comes here. People come from the UK, people come from South America, Argentina, people come from Dubai, and within the country, we have everybody including Captains of industries, politicians, royal fathers, all across the country,” he said.

The lawmaker commended the Nasarawa State Government on its continuous support for the tournament.

“The Nasarawa State Government, as far as Keffi Polo Ranch is concerned, I cannot thank the Nasarawa State Government enough. It has been all along for the 10 years that we’ve been here.

“The government has been very, very supportive particularly all our tournaments in support of education.

“This is because the governor and his administration has been committed to making the education environment much better in the state,” Wadada said.

Highlight of the event was the unveiling of a newly constructed pavilion named after the late George Coumantaros, founder of Flour Mills of Nigeria (FMN), in recognition of the company’s long-standing support for Keffi Polo.

Dignitaries at the event included the Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Emmanuel Akabe and royal fathers withing and outside the state.

By David Owei, Bayelsa

The Local Organizing Committee for the 2025 Bayelsa State chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Week has released a detailed lineup of activities designed to celebrate sports journalism and foster community engagement.

According to a statement from committee chairman Loveday Herbert, the week kicks off on Monday, December 1, with a invigorating road walk starting at Ekeki Junction and ending at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex. Participants will then enjoy a comprehensive workout and aerobic session to energize the festivities.

The action continues on Tuesday, December 2, with the launch of the Clinton Thompson Football Competition, pitting teams from various registered media houses against each other in friendly matches.

Midweek highlights include Wednesday, December 3, when table tennis tournaments get underway at the Coastal Fortress in Ox Bow Lake. Simultaneously, draughts and other indoor games will take place at the NUJ Press Centre, starting at 2 p.m.

On Friday, December 5, aspiring and seasoned sports journalists—particularly students from local tertiary institutions interested in sports reporting—can attend a lecture and symposium on cutting-edge trends and techniques in sports journalism. The event is set for 11 a.m. at the Ernest Ikoli Press Center.

The weekend brings high-energy closures: Saturday, December 6, features the football competition finals, followed by a gala dinner at the Ernest Ikoli Press Center. During the evening, standout athletes, coaches, and sports administrators will be recognized for their achievements throughout the year.

The week-long celebration wraps up on Sunday, December 7, with a special Thanksgiving Service.

The committee encourages all members of the Nigerian Union of Journalists to participate actively and join the Bayelsa SWAN community in making this year’s event an unforgettable success.

Ignatius Okorocha,Abuja

President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio has urged football administrators to engage in talent hunts at the grassroots level to discover budding stars who would represent Nigeria in the future.

He assured that modalities would be put in place to make the Senate President’s U-18 Unity Cup a yearly tournament that budding takents would be discovered and nurtured to bring back the glory days of Nigerian football.

Senator Godswill Akpabio made this known on Sunday as the second edition of the 10th Senate President’s U-18 Unity Cup commenced in Abuja.

Twenty one teams comprising sixteen (16) male and five (5) female teams cutting across the country arrived the nation’s capital, Abuja on Saturday ahead of the competition, which kicked off on Sunday, at the Old Parade Ground, Garki, Abuja.

Represented by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Sports Development, Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi, Senator Akpabio described the young players as future stars who would go on to represent the country at both continental and world football competitions.

According to the Senate President, sports and football in particular cannot grow if the grassroot is neglected. He said, “With these young men showcasing their talents, this is the future of Nigeria, and there is no way you can grow sports if we don’t go to the grassroots.

“In times past the Late Keshis, the Okochas, the Kanus, the Amokachis, the Ikpebas and the Tijani Babangidas, who brought glory to Nigeria were discovered in these kind of tournaments.

“I have seen tremendous signal from President Bola Tinubu in putting sports in the front burner, therefore sports administrators must key into this opportunity that the President has shown in the last two years. It should not be business as usual,” he said.

Senator Akpabio commended the Grassroots Sports Federation (GRASOF) for their tireless efforts in organising the competition and described the tournament as an opportunity to develop the sports sector, so that the future for the young footballl talents would be brighter.

In his welcome remarks, Tournament Coordinator, Hon. John Bassey Ekpenyong, expressed gratitude to Senator Akpabio for recognizing the importance of such competitions to the development of youths and the sports sector. He highlighted the benefits of ensuring a yearly competition, as it would among other things become a pedestal for teenagers to nurture their football career.

“This will ensure that future generations of Nigerian youth continue to benefit from this platform, promoting unity, sportsmanship, and national development. We believe that with your leadership, this tournament can become a flagship event for the Senate, inspiring and empowering Nigerian youth for years to come.”

In the opening game the Jaguar Football Club of Abia state saw off Amahus Football Club of Yobe one goal to nil. The competition continues at the Old Parade Ground, Garki, Abuja.