National Sports Festival: Northeast Zonal Eliminations Begin in Damaturu

Second Right; Dr. Mohammed Ago Abdulrahman, Director Sports Yobe State, Mohammed Balumi, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Sports, Yobe State; Okey Emmanuel, Zonal Sports Coordinator National Sports Commission with other officials during the flag off of the games.

...Yobe makes strong start, female hockey team already qualified

By JOE Hemba, Damaturu

The Northeast Zonal Team Sports Competition has commenced in Damaturu, the capital of Yobe State, as part of preparations for the final selection of athletes for this year’s National Sports Festival.

Declaring the event open, Governor Mai Mala Buni urged all athletes to compete fairly, assuring them that the state has put in place all necessary measures for a smooth and successful tournament.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mohammed M. Balumi, Governor Buni emphasized his administration's commitment to the development and welfare of athletes. He also encouraged participants to embrace the hospitality of Yobe State while assuring them of their safety throughout the competition.

The Zonal Coordinator of Sports at the National Sports Commission, Mr. Okey Emmanuel, described the event as Nigeria’s equivalent of the Olympics, underscoring the importance of selecting only the best athletes for the festival.

“This competition is like Nigeria’s Olympics, and only the best of the best will be selected. I urge all athletes to play by the rules and make their respective states proud,” he stated.

The zonal elimination tournament, which will run for four days, features athletes from Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe states.

A cross section of athletes at the August 27 Stadium Damaturu during the kick of the games

The Chairman Yobe State Sports Writers Association, Mr. Duku JOEL, acknowledge the role of the Sports writers in the development of sports across the country and the State.

He commended Yobe State Government for hosting the event, while urging journalists to uphold the ethics of the profession.

The team games to competed FOOTBALL, HOCKEY, VOLLEYBALL, BEEACH VOLLEY BALL AND BASKET BALL, HAND BALL, CRICKET, ABULA 

Meanwhile, the State Hockey Female team has already qualified for the main even after defeating Adamawa Female team with 2-1

The State Football team also defeated Adamawa State : Yobe 4 - 0 Adamawa, while the Handball (Male) beat Bauch with  21 goals against  15 Bauchi

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Yobe State Partners with Moroccan University for Sabbatical and Exchange Programmes

Yobe SSG, Baba Malam Wali with other members of his delegation in Morocco 

From JOE Hemba

 In a bid to enhance academic excellence and capacity building, the Yobe State government has initiated a partnership with Mohammed VI University in Ben Guerir, Morocco. The collaboration aims to facilitate sabbatical opportunities for lecturers and establish exchange programmes for students, opening doors to international learning experiences. 

 A high-powered delegation from Yobe State, led by Secretary to the State Government, Baba Malam Wali, visited the Moroccan university on Thursday to present the proposal. The discussions centered on expanding educational opportunities for Yobe’s students and faculty members, aligning with the state’s vision for academic and professional growth. 

 Lamia Idbilti, the university’s Director of Corporate Communications, welcomed the initiative, emphasizing that Mohammed VI University already operates 160 partnership programmes globally and would be pleased to add Yobe State to its network. She highlighted the institution’s commitment to offering direct sponsorships for students pursuing undergraduate, Master’s, and Doctorate degrees across various disciplines. 

 “Our university provides exchange and scholarship programmes in fields such as agriculture, medical sciences, computer engineering, architecture, green technology, humanities, and hospitality, among others,” Idbilti explained. She further noted that Yobe State stands to benefit significantly in emerging fields like science energy and nano-engineering, particularly in the development of green energy solutions.

 Recognizing the potential impact of the partnership, Baba Malam Wali affirmed the Yobe State government’s readiness to meet all necessary requirements to ensure that lecturers from the state’s higher institutions can participate in sabbatical programmes, while students can access the exchange and sponsorship opportunities. 

 “This is a valuable opportunity for our academic staff to broaden their expertise and for our students to gain exposure to world-class education,” Wali stated. 

 Prof. Mohammed Bello Kawuwa, the state’s Commissioner for Higher Education, described the initiative as a game-changer for Yobe’s education sector. He highlighted that most of the courses offered under the exchange programme have strong entrepreneurial prospects, equipping graduates with marketab

“These programmes will not only enhance knowledge but also provide direct employment opportunities and foster wealth creation for our people,” Prof. Kawuwa remarked. 

 Echoing the urgency of the collaboration, Alh. Ahmed Shuaibu Gara-Gombe, CEO of the consulting firm African Network Center, assured that efforts were already in motion to finalize the necessary procedures.

 “We are moving swiftly to solidify this partnership. Our goal is to ensure that both staff and students from Yobe State can commence their programmes as soon as possible,” Gara-Gombe emphasized. With this ambitious initiative.

 Yobe State is positioning itself as a hub for academic excellence and international collaboration, leveraging global partnerships to drive educational and economic transformation.

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