The Director General, National Sports Commission, Gbenga Elegbeleye, has commended the efforts of the Nigerian Unity Football Tournament for their initiative in using football to foster peace across the country.
Elegbeleye, who stated this during a recent visit of the National Organising Committee of the body to his office in Abuja, promised that the commission would give the body the needed support to enhance the success of the tournament.
The National Project Director of the Nigerian Unity Football Tournament, Moses Ebahor, informed the DG that the objective of the tournament tagged Football for Youth Peace Project, was to promote peace and unity in the country, using football to unite Nigerians despite tribal and religious differences.
He added that they had visited 90 per cent of the states to sensitise them about the tournament and to offer education for a brighter future for the youths. The official inauguration of the 36 states coordinators/investiture of a patron and matron will come up on August 15, 2013 at Grand Hotel, Asaba, Delta State.The highlight of the visit was the presentation of a branded ball to the Minister of Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, by the National Organising Committee of the body. The ball was received by Elegbeleye on behalf of the minister. The Chairman, Central Working Committee, Ejugo Alfred, thanked Elegbeleye for his support and promised to update the commission about the activities of the tournament.
In a related event the DG also has hailed the home based Super Eagles for qualifying for the Africa Nations Championship slated for January 2014, in South Africa.
Elegbeleye disclosed that he has absolute belief in the talents that abound in the country and vows the National Sports Commission’s continuous support to lift football and make Nigeria rank among the best football playing nations in the world. The sports administrator congratulated the Nigeria Football Federation President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari and the Chief Coach of the team Stephen Keshi for pushing the team to the limit to achieve this feat and hoped that the Hone based Eagles would work hard to bring the CHAN trophy to Nigeria next year January in their first ever attempt just like they won the Africa Nations Cup this year February in South Africa.
“The qualification of the home based lads for the 2014 CHAN is a pointer to the fact that Nigerian domestic football league is improving every season and this is a heartwarming development. “Apart from the fact that this achievement will provide a solid structure for our national team since we will now be having the nucleus of our Super Eagles from the home front, the entire world will begin to respect and take our local league seriously. This feat also will boost our team in FIFA’s ratings and the NSC will continue to support the football federation in its various programmes like we also support other sports in the country.”
Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, born October 1, 1964, hails from Akoko North East Local Government Area of Ondo State.
He attended A.U.D. Primary School, Ikare Akoko between 1969 and 1975 and later proceeded to St. Patrick’s Secondary School, Iwaro-Oka, Ondo State (1977-1982) and Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State (1983-1988) to University of Ado- Ekiti, Ekiti State (2004-2005). In 1975.
Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye has held several political positions at the Local Government, State and Federal levels. Bewteen 1997 and 1998, he was elected Chairman of Akoko North East Local Government Council. During the same period (1997-1998), he served as a Member of the Ondo State Primary Education Board (SPEB). He was appointed Chairman, Ondo State Waste Management Authority in 2003, a position he held until 2006.
In 2007, Hon. Elegbeleye contested for and won a seat to the Federal House of Representatives. During that Legislative period (2007-2011) he, among others, served as the Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Sports.
He is a member of several professional and others bodies. These include:
Fellow, Chartered Institute of Local Government & Public Administrations
Fellow, Chartered Institute of Management Account
Fellow, Certified Institute of Management
Fellow, the Nigerian Institute of Sales Management
Member, Ministerial Committee on Reform of Football Administration in Nigeria – Aug-Nov. 2011
Chairman, Ondo State table Tennis Association – 2004-2007
Vice Chairman, Ondo State Sport Development Committee – 2005-2008
Chairman, Rising Stars Football Club, Akure – 2004-2007
President, Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON) Ondo State – 2002-2010
Member Ethics and fair play committee, Nigeria football Association (NFA) – 2004-2007
The awards and honours he has so far received, include:
Local Government Chairman of the Year (Ondo State Merit Award Committee) 1998
Outstanding Legislator of Youths by South West Youth Leaders Association
The National Association of the Nigerian Students (NANS) Award for Distinguished Leadership Qualities 2005
Pillar of Sports in Ondo State Sport by the Ondo State Youth Action Group 2009
Presidential Award by the Rotary Club of Ijapo 2007
Akoko Top 20 Award by the National Association of Akoko Student (UNAD Chapter) 1998
Omoluka Award by the National Council of Woman Societies (Ondo Chapter) 1998
Most Articulate Representative of the Year from Ondo State (Legislative Meritorious Award) 2008-2009
Legend of Awosim (Chief Obafemi Awolowo/Awoist Award) 2008
Outstanding Performance Award of Honors by the National Association of Gospel Musicians.
Media Merit Award for Legislative Excellence 2009
Certificate of Merit by the International Republican Institute, U.S.A.
HOBBIES:
Sporting activities, Reading, Meeting People
