Runsewe lauds R & A for donations of golf equipment to NGF

Olusegun Runsewe, the President, Nigeria Golf Federation (NGF), has expressed gratitude to the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (R&A), Scotland for their donation of golf equipment to the NGF.

Runsewe made the remarks during the unveiling of the golf equipment at the Golf and Health Signature in Abuja

The NGF President noted that the equipment worth would go a long way in ensuring the growth and development of the sport at the grassroots.

He expressed his appreciation to the R & A for the kind donations, promising that the donated items would be put to good use.

"As of today, there is no single golfer representing Nigeria in the Masters Open in Augusta.

"But I promise you that from what we have started here today, in the next two years, you will start to hear about the Okafors, the Chidinmas, the Abubakars, the Olademejis, just like you hear in international football," he said.

He also shared his long-term vision, which focuses on budding talent discovery and encouraging more female participation in the sport.

"The entire Europe has one of the best youth golf development programmes in the history of the world.

"As a matter of fact, over 23 per cent of golfers in the U.S. now are ladies and young children.

"Our projection is to take ladies and youth participation in golf to at least 15 per cent in Nigeria.

"With renewed support from international bodies such as R & A and a clear roadmap for development such as what we have at the NGF, we are positioning golf for a stronger future.

"Our goal is not just to grow the sport locally, but to also nuture champions who can compete on the global stage," he said.

Runsewe who doubles as a Board of Trustees member at the IBB International Golf and Country Club (IBBIGCC), Abuja, said he would not relent in his efforts to make golf a leading sport in the country, adding that plans were ongoing to sponsor some talents for golf training programmes abroad.

He added that part of his goal was to create a new economy around golf, leveraging the estimated $4 billion expected to circulate in African golf in 2025.

Earlier, Shola Fayoyiwa, a deputy director in the NSC, who represented Dikko, said Runsewe's dedication to promoting golf at the grassroots level has been evident in his initiatives to increase participation and develop the sport nationwide.

Fayoyiwa noted that the NGF's efforts in revitalising the game of golf in Nigeria and making the country to be competitive and global golf stage, and preparing the country to reap the benefits of international golf tournaments and investments was highly commendable.

"Before we have anybody representing the country at the international level, we must identify them.

"Also, if we want to identify any talents at the grassroots, we must have the equipment.

"So, we are at the NSC are excited about what the NGF is doing to attract the attention of the international community to the grassroots development of golf in the country.

"The donation by the R & A is a welcome development and one we encourage other federations to explore as we look forward to more collaborations and sponsorships from other international bodies in this regard," Dikko said.

Other NGF board members and stakeholders present at the ceremony also corroborated the President’s views on the need for grassroots development of the sport in the country.

They noted that NSC's commendation further validates and acknowledges Runsewe's efforts to promote golf development in Nigeria.

Other stakeholders at the ceremony were the NGF Vice President and Captain of GEJ Golf Club, AVM B.D. Solomon, Mrs Ekanem Ekwueme, the AACT Trustee for the West & Central Africa, Mrs Bose Ngozi Onwuegbu, the South West zonal representative at the NGF, and a representative of the President, Ladies Golf Association of Nigeria (LGAN), Evelyn Oyome.

The rest were; Ali Peters, the Vice Captain, and representative of the Captain of TYB International Golf Resort and Country Club, Maj.- Gen. Samson Jiya, the representative of the Captain of I.E. Ibas Golf Club, Rear Admiral Julius Nwagwu, Maryam Shehu, a member of IBBIGCC, and Monday Itiola, the NGF Secretary-General

Hon. Abubakar Donates Cash to APC Leaders, Supporters in Dala for Ramadan

Hon. Abubakar Aminu Ibrahim, the Senior Legislative Aide (SLA) to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajuddeen Abbas, has donated cash to APC leaders and supporters in Dala Local Government to support them during Ramadan.  

The event, held on Thursday in Dala, aimed to appreciate party members for their dedication and efforts.

Speaking at the gathering, Abubakar emphasized the importance of party leaders, describing them as the backbone of any political organization.

“These are the people who struggle for the victory of any political party. That is why it is necessary to go back and support them,” he stated.

As part of the initiative, the Committee of Elders of APC in Dala Local Government received ₦1 million, the APC chairman received ₦100,000, and the party’s secretary got ₦30,000. Additionally, 25 APC executives were given ₦20,000 each, while women leaders, persons with disabilities, and 300 ward leaders received ₦10,000 each, among others.

Abubakar assured that this initiative was just the beginning, promising continued support.

“Less than two months ago, I paid JAMB registration fees for 350 students in Dala. I will also sponsor candidates for WAEC and NECO, and those who perform well in JAMB will be sponsored to universities of their choice,” he added.

The Kano APC chairman, Abdullahi Abbas, represented by the party’s PRO, Ahmad S. Aruwa, commended Abubakar’s generosity and urged other politicians to emulate him.

“If we had three people like Abubakar, Kano would not be the same,” he said.

He also criticized the ruling NNPP, claiming they had not provided similar support to the people of Kano.

APC Kano Women Leader, Hajiya Fatima Abdullahi, praised Abubakar for prioritizing women in his support.

“Sixty percent of the beneficiaries are women. Women play a key role in elections. Whoever they support will win, by the grace of God,” she stated.

She emphasized that women are the foundation of political success, as they are actively involved in mobilization and grassroots campaigns. She highlighted their role in attending rallies, canvassing support door-to-door, and ensuring their families remain loyal to the party.

She further praised Abubakar for recognizing the contributions of women, noting that his generosity would ease their burden, especially during Ramadan.

“This support will help women provide for their families, buy food, and take care of their children. When you empower women, you empower entire households. That is why I am particularly happy that women received the majority of this support,” she added.

She called on other politicians to follow Abubakar’s example by prioritizing women, stressing that those who support women will always earn their loyalty in return.

Ibrahim Hamza Ibrahim, APC leader of Bakin Ruwa Ward, described Abubakar’s efforts as true party loyalty.

“This is what being in a political party is all about. Political appointees should come back and help the people,” he said.

Alin Ummi, APC leader of Madigawa Ward, noted that everyone in attendance had felt the impact of Abubakar’s support.

“He has given us a lot of money, and we are thankful to God for witnessing this day. We will use this to break our fast and support our families,” he said.

Among the dignitaries in attendance were the Executive Financial Director of Hadejia-Jama’are River Basin Development Authority, Musa Iliasu Kwankwaso, Hon. Yusuf Aliyu Tumfafi and renowned Kano businessman, Alhaji Liti Kulkul.

Rep Abubakar Kabir Abubakar Supports Bichi Indigent Students with Over ₦9 Million for Science and Technical Boarding School Resumption

On Saturday, the Kabir Abubakar Bichi Foundation, under the chairmanship of Dr. Habibu Usman Abdu, inaugurated the support of a 20 thousand Naira stipend each to students who are indigenes of Bichi. The event was held at FCE T Bichi.

It's a tradition maintained by Rep Abubakar Kabir Abubakar to support indigent students from Bichi when they return to boarding school during every term and after vacation.

In his remarks during the occasion, Rep Abubakar Kabir Abubakar urged the students to dedicate themselves to their studies and pledged to continue helping them.

Abubakar Kabir Abubakar said very soon he will renovate 8 secondary schools in his constituency and pledged to sponsor indigenes of the area, mostly women, to Egypt and Saudi Arabia for their tertiary education.

"Our aim is to ensure we get more engineers and doctors, and the renovation of the schools is to make sure students and pupils are not sitting on the floor. We don't want to see any roof wiped out from classes, and the hostels renovated because the dignity of students is to make sure they sleep comfortably," said Rep Bichi.

Rep Bichi said the federal government has also allocated over 1.5 billion for the renovation of Dawakin Tofa Science College and GSS Bichi will also be renovated. He noted that Dan Cin Cin Secondary School is also included.

Rep Bichi added that Hagagawa Primary School will be reconstructed in such a way that it will compete with all the private schools where sons of politicians are attending. He noted that six more primary schools will also be renovated, including Chiranchi and Sabonlayi. "We don't want to play politics with education; that is why we are inviting all and sundry to come and help us in uplifting education in the state," he said.

According to him, apart from 106 teachers manning schools in the area, they have employed 200 more teachers in Bichi, and their screening will soon start. "We are doing this because we have a scarcity of teachers," he added.

He also thanked members of the committee for the disbursement of scholarships and their dedication to education.

The conglomeration of students, which included both male and female, thanked Rep Abubakar Kabir Abubakar for the gesture.

Kano Donates N14 million, Food Stuff To Family of Accident Victims Under Education Ministry

Kano State Government has donated N14 million and food stuff to the deceased family and accident victims under the state ministry of education.

Distributing the donation today Wednesday to the family victims at Governor's College, the state commissioner of education Alhaji Umar Doguwa disclosed that the gesture was part of the present administration concern in symphatizing with family of the deceased and those who got injured due to car accident while pursuing their academic carrier.

Umar Doguwa said among the victims were late Abubakar Umar a student of Government Secondary school Bichi who was innocently killed recently while in school and whose case is still under thorough investigation, late Abdulkadir Suleiman a student of Exchange Programme who studied at Adamawa State and died recently due to brief illness, 

The remainig were late Hajara Mustapha Waziri a student of Governor's College who lost her life due to car accident and Hajiya Safiya Ahmed, the Pricipal of Government Girls Secondary School Kabo who also lost her life due to car accident.

Others were those that sustained injury as a result of car accident. namely Nana Ibrahim, Fatima Abdullahi Adamu and Ummulkhairi Nura all from Governor's College.

According to the commissioner, each of the victim was given a cash donation of N2 million, two bags of rice, one bag of Maize, one carton of sphagetti and one carton of Macroni.

He said " the administration of Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf does not only pays attention to the provision of learning materials, construction and renovation of schools among others, but is becoming much interested on the general welfare of both the students and teachers at large.

" I want to assure you that Kano State Government will do everything possible to find out those who have hands in the murder of Abubakar Umar and justice must be done to ensure that the culprits are dealt with according to the law ".

While thanking the Governor Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf for his concern over the condition of the victims and their family, Commissioner Doguwa prayed for Almighty Allah to forgive those who lost their life and a quick recovery for those who sustained injury.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of Ministry Hajiya Kubra Imam urged the family of the victims to continue to pray to their lost ones for Allah's mercy.

Speaking on behalf of the family victims, the grandfather of late Abubakar Umar thanked the Governor for his concern and prayed Allah to continue to guide him to succeed.

Abdulmumin Kofa Dispense Money To Constituents For Eid Celebrations

Abdulmumin Jibrin Kofa, the member representing Kiru and Federal Constituency in Kano, continues his longstanding tradition of supporting his constituents by making a generous cash donation for Eid celebrations. 

Jibrin handed over the money to the NNPP (New Nigeria Peoples Party) Chairmen of Kiru and Bebeji. He entrusted them with the responsibility of ensuring a fair and equitable distribution, emphasizing the importance of justice and transparency in the process.

This year, the donation is set to benefit a wide range of community members, including local leaders, women and youth groups, religious and traditional rulers, as well as social media influencers who play a crucial role in community engagement and information dissemination.

The Jarma of Bebeji, who is scheduled to embark on several trips in the coming days, expresses his hope that the donation would bring joy and relief to the beneficiaries during the festive season. 

He reiterated his commitment to the welfare of his constituents and his ongoing efforts to support and uplift the community.

The gesture has been warmly receives with gratitude for his consistent support and dedication to his constituency. 

The NNPP Chairmen assured the public that they would uphold the trust placed in them by ensuring that the money reaches the main beneficiaries, thereby fostering a sense of unity and celebration during Eid.