
The Niger State Sports Commission announced its readiness to identify and nurture young talents across the state through grassroots sports initiatives. The commission has established a Grassroot Sports Department to accelerate the discovery of young athletes. Comrade Danjuma Masu, Chairman of the Commission, stated that this department aims to bring sports closer to the people, ensuring that young talents are identified at the grassroots level for maximum benefit. He promised that the initiative would cover all 25 local government areas of the state. This announcement was made during a training session on "Sports Journalism as a Tool for Development, Unity, and Social Change," organized by the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria. Mohammed Nma Kolo, Chairman of Nexter Radio and Zonal Representative of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria, North Central, pledged continued support for sports development in the state. Comrade Alhassan Kutigi, Chairman of the Niger State Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, affirmed the union's commitment to revitalizing sporting activities through transparent processes. Comrade Abu Nmodu, Chairman of the Niger State Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, commended the training and urged participants to apply their learning for the development of SWAN. Pastor Dan Amasigha, the guest lecturer, emphasized the expanded role of sports journalists in the 21st century, highlighting sports as a tool for social cohesion, nation-building, economic
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.

England midfielder Jude Bellingham believes the national team is more connected heading into this summer's World Cup compared to their Euro 2024 campaign. Bellingham, who played a key role in England reaching the Euro 2024 final, reflected on the squad's experience, stating that lessons were learned from the tournament. He noted that during the Euros, some aspects off the pitch were handled poorly, and the group did not feel as connected as it could have, partly due to expectations. Despite reaching the final, England's performances often faced scrutiny, and Bellingham mentioned that even when winning, there wasn't a feeling of happiness. The 22-year-old emphasized the need for the squad to balance a winning mentality with enjoying success. Looking ahead to the World Cup, Bellingham highlighted the importance of every squad member feeling valued and included, stressing that everyone must be ready and feel like a significant part of the team. England will begin their World Cup campaign against Croatia in Arlington, Texas, next Wednesday.

President Bola Tinubu announced the renaming of the Institute of Petroleum Studies, Kaduna, to the General Shehu Musa Yar'Adua University of Geological Sciences and Engineering Technology. This decision, made on Friday, honors the late military officer's contributions to Nigeria's transition to civilian rule and his vision of national partnership. The renaming was part of President Tinubu's Democracy Day address, recognizing architects of Nigeria's democratic journey. The President also announced national honors for over 30 democracy heroes and soldier-democrats of the June 12 struggle, including posthumous recognitions for Dr. Arthur Nwankwo and Ben Charles-Obi, with the complete list to be released soon.
Must ReadPresident Bola Tinubu stated that the abduction of schoolchildren in Oyo and Borno states has dampened this year鈥檚 Democracy Day celebrations. He reaffirmed his administration's commitment to ensuring their safe return and enhancing Nigeria's security. During his national address for Nigeria's 27th Democracy Day, his fourth since taking office in 2023, President Tinubu emphasized that "Democracy without security is a mirage." He highlighted that his administration has declared a security emergency and approved the recruitment of over 50,000 new police officers and thousands of military personnel. The President also commended the armed forces, police, intelligence services, traditional rulers, faith leaders, and community heads for their contributions to peace and reconciliation efforts.