By Priscilla Osaje

The Abuja Lawyers League (ALL), an annual football competition, will begin on May 15, according to the organisers.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the competition is aimed at cresting an environment for lawyers to socialise outside the courtrooms.

The chief host of the 2021 ALL, Yakubu Maikyau, said  he would work with the organisers to achieve their objective of holding a very remarkable event.

“We accepted to work with them on plans they already had, to ensure that they achieve the set objectives in 2021.

“We will continue to support and partner with them. I can see from the summary of what they have achieved since 2017 and the story has been from one level of progress to another,” he said.

Maikyau noted that sports provided a platform for better interaction among colleagues, and “it is one moment we put all our differences behind, especially in football.”

” In it, there is no religious sentiment and ethnic bigotry. All the prejudice that seems to divide us are consumed with our interest in sports,” he added.

Maikyau who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) explained that sports fosters unity and cooperation and offered citizens an opportunity to contribute to the growth of the nation.

The competition chief host also urged Nigerians  to change their lifestyle and engage in regular exercising to achieve physical fitness.

He disclosed that he had participated in medical outreach and partnered with South Americans in collaboration with the Nigeria Medical and Dental Council.

“They deploy their personnel who volunteer in medical outreaches together with doctors and nurses from the University College Hospital Ibadan,” Maikyau said.

He commended the Kebbi  Government for their collaboration and support, saying they would extend the medical outreach across the state.

“This is an opportunity and my colleagues and I will be part of it.”

Speaking earlier, Olujimi Olujide, the Principal Head of members of the competition’s Organising Committee, appreciated Maikyau for his gesture.

He further praised him for also deeming it fit to be their host this year.

“The media  conference/official unveiling of the host is to formally communicate to the world that this year’s competition is named after the host, Maikyau,” Olujide said.

He added that the idea of ALL was conceived in 2017 and that it had grown exceedingly among lawyers in Abuja and the country in general.

“In 2017, it started with six teams with the coming together of 30 persons.

“In 2018, we had it in honour of Lateef Fagbemi, a SAN, and the competition was known as LOF Cup, while in 2019 we had it in honour of Akinolu Olujinmi and it was called  the “Kacos’ cup.

“Last year was a blank competition known as Abuja Lawyers League,” Olujide said.

He explained that the last event was remarkable due to the ground-breaking achievement of the first Abuja Lawyers League Gala/Awards Night, where prizes were presented to players and sponsors.

The official noted that the lawyers’ league was a platform for lawyers to interact and get in touch with the reality of all they had, in terms  of help and sports activities.

“We have grown to reaching more lawyers over the years, because in 2017 we had six teams, and in 2018 10 teams, while  in 2019 and 2020 we had 14 teams,” he added.

Olujide said the plans to have medical outreach for lawyers was quite necessary.

He disclosed that the medical team that would offer certain level of free medical services and advice to lawyers would be a great development.

” Also, as part of our corporate social responsibilities as a football organisation, we have gone to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp at Durumi to donate some relief  materials and we intend to do more.” (NAN)

By Moses Omorogieva

With less than five weeks to the third “Making of Champions (MoCs) Grand Prix”, over 300 Athletes from across Nigeria and West Africa have registered for the event scheduled for April 2 and April 3.

The Founder and CEO of MoCs, Bambo Akani, disclosed the figure on their media platform, monitored by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday.

Akani said that the event has fast become the largest annual Athletics Competition in Nigeria aside from the National Trials.

He expressed joy over the number of entries received so far, saying “We’re excited about the response from Athletes nationwide and abroad for this event.

“The first edition in 2018 had 400 Athletes and the second in 2019 had 500 Athletes. With three weeks of registration still left, we’re well on track to exceed those numbers, but these are different times due to the pandemic.

“So we will be publishing a final list of entries to ensure we can strictly adhere to coronavirus safety protocol. The list will feature athletes vying to qualify for the Olympics, World U20 and African Championships.”

Akani said the initial registration deadline of Friday, March 5, has been extended to Friday, March 19, stressing that no further entries will be entertained after the final deadline.

“Several National Team Athletes for Nigeria have already signalled their intention to participate, with qualification for the Tokyo Olympics up for grabs.

“These include Commonwealth Games Medallist and multiple African and National Champion, Patience Okon-George, African Games Medallists, Kemi Francis and Emmanuel Arowolo, and African Championships Medallist Samuel Kure.

“Other top Team Nigeria Athletes at the event are Commonwealth Games Medallist and National 100m Champion, Joy Udo-Gabriel, African Games Medallist and National 400m Champion, Emmanuel Ojeli, National 200m Silver Medallist, Jerry Jakpa, and National 100m Silver Medallist, Grace Nwokocha.

“Indeed, National Team Athletes of other countries such as Sierra Leone and Togo have already registered their interest to participate in the Olympic-qualifying Event,” Akani said.

He explained that top Athletics Clubs in Lagos dominated the list of entries, stressing that the hosts, MoC Track Club, will have 25 Athletes, Eaglesight (20), Olapade Athletics Club (16) and Arena (14).

He Further noted entries from D’Victors (11) and Christy Athletics Club (8) in Ogun State, Federal University of Technology Akure (10) in Ondo, God’s Speed Athletics Club (7) in Oyo, Favoured Stars (5) in Delta and Coach Felix Academic & Sports Foundation (5) in Kaduna.

The founder said other established Athletics Teams making a return to the MoC Grand Prix include Team Police (10), Civil Defence (8) and the African Athletics Development Centre (AADC) in Port-Harcourt (3).

Akani said some State athletes would be using the Grand Prix to keep sharp and prepared for the National Sports Festival, rescheduled for April, including Edo (15), Delta (7), Anambra (5), Akwa Ibom (3) and Cross River (3).

He said, however, that the event would be by invitation only and the final list of invited Athletes would be published a week before the event (by Friday March 26).

“All Athletes registering from outside Nigeria, however, will be contacted for further information immediately MoC receives their registration for the event,” he said. (NAN)

By Ijeoma Okigbo

Sen. Kabiru Gaya, Chairman of K & G Shekarau FC of Kano, on Monday, commended the Nigeria National League (NNL) for facilitating the growth of football at the grassroots.

Gaya said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, following his team’s 1-2 loss to Road Safety FC of Abuja, on Saturday.

The senator, who witnessed the group A2 NNL match at the Area 3 football pitch, Abuja, said that the young talents being discovered from the league would serve as national assets in the future.

“ I am so impressed with the quality of play in this match. You will see that the footballing talents we have in this country is enormous.

“I appreciate the management of the league for all they are doing to ensure that the teams’ play well and play safe.

“In no distant time, these players would be plying their trade outside the shores of this country and that is what we hope for in K & G Shekarau club,’’ Gaya said.

Meanwhile, Sanusi Jubril and Suleiman Abba scored the two goals for Road Safety FC, while Mustapha Dan-Azumi pulled the consolation goal for the visiting side.

K & G Shekarau are currently resting at bottom place, with one point from three matches, out of the 10 teams on the table, while Road Safety is in sixth place with four points from three matches.