Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has granted approval for the immediate construction of five mini- sports centres in Toto, Keffi, Kokona, Wamba and Doma Local Government Areas.

The governor made the announcement at the grand finale of the maiden Matawalle Empowerment and Development Foundation Grassroots Football Tournament held at Pilot Primary School Football Pitch, Toto.

The grassroots football competition was organized to mark the 53rd birthday of Secretary to the State Government, Shuaibu Magaji Labaran.

“Looking at the condition of this pitch, both teams were able to display exceptional talent. I know if we give them the Lafia City Stadium, they would do far better,” Sule said.

“I feel bad about the pitch’s condition, and seeing how passionate you people are about football. It will definitely be a shame if we don’t have a mini stadium here in Toto.”

Sule said that the contracts for the five projects will be signed and sealed on Monday (today).

Former African champions, D’Tigers finished the latest qualifying window on Sunday, July 5, without defeat after walloping Rwanda 106-62 points to secure a spot in the Second Round of the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup African qualifiers.

Group C matches of the qualifiers featuring Nigeria, Guinea, Tunisia and Rwanda were hosted in Luanda, Angola.

In the Angolan capital, Nigeria caused an upset by beating high-flying group leaders Guinea 80-79 and Tunisia 84-81.

The D’Tigers’ dominant performance over Rwanda yesterday was the largest winning margin at that stage of the 2027 World Cup African Qualifiers campaign.

They overcame their 1–2 win–loss record from the first round of Group C, played in November, to advance to the second round of the qualifiers for the 12 teams with an encouraging 4–2 record.

(Daily Trust)

• Engr Elekwachi Chukwudi Dimkpa

The National Sports Commission (NSC) has officially reaffirmed Engr Elekwachi Chukwudi Dimkpa as President of the Nigeria Karate Federation (NKF).

The confirmation was announced in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja by the NSC’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Dr Kehinde Ajayi.

According to the commission, the decision settles the leadership crisis that has affected the federation in the aftermath of the 2025 elections and paves the way for renewed stability within Nigerian karate.

Dimkpa, a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (FNSE) and the Nigerian Institution of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (FNIEEE), is an engineer, business executive, sports administrator and public servant with extensive leadership experience.

Before assuming the presidency, he served as the South-South Chairman and a board member of the Nigeria Karate Federation, contributing to policy development, athlete welfare, sponsorship and the overall growth of the sport.