Steve Dede

Sportswear giant Puma has terminated its contract with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) after the Federal Government of Nigeria rejected it.&nbsp;

Puma had in July 2019 entered a four-year deal with AFN worth over a billion Naira ($2.76m), which brought lots of bickering that divided the federation into two factions.&nbsp;

Former president of the AFN Ibrahim Gusau entered the deal with Puma at Doha during the 2019 World Championships.&nbsp;

But without the backing of the Federal Government through the Minister of Sports Sunday Dare, Nigeria did not honour the contract.&nbsp;

Instead, Dare and his backed AFN president Tony Okowa signed a deal with Nigerian sports brand Afa Sports for the Tokyo Olympics.&nbsp;

Not pleased with the development, Puma, in a statement signed by the company’s director Manuel Edlheimb announced the termination of the deal.&nbsp;

“As a direct consequence of the recent developments, particularly at the Tokyo Olympic Games 2020 and pursuant to clauses 9.2 and 7.3 of the Agreement, we hereby terminate the Agreement with immediate effect,” part of the statement read.&nbsp;

“PUMA especially declares to be discharged from any or all obligations towards all stakeholders involved and reserves all rights against these entities and individuals”.

Puma, in their contract, had agreed to pay N6m ($15,000) to Nigerian Gold medalists, N2m to silver medalists and N1.2m ($3000) to bronze medal winners.&nbsp;

The Puma deal has been controversial in the AFN, with money reportedly paid to a private account connected to Gusau.&nbsp;

Sports Minister Dare petitioned the Department of State Security (DSS) to investigate Gusau who was cleared of all wrongdoings.&nbsp;

Puma was not happy that Team Nigeria did not use its kit for the Olympics.

Puma terminates billion Naira kit deal with AFN after Federal Government’s rejection

<h1>Nigeria’s sports minister Sunday Dare has questioned the competence of Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr following the two draws against Sierra Leone in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.&nbsp;</h1>

The Super Eagles could only take two points from two games against Sierra Leone. The first which held on Friday, Novem ber, 13, 2021 was more disappointing as Nigeria’s national team squandered a 4-0 lead to<a href="https://www.pulse.ng/sports/football/super-eagles-squander-a-4-0-lead-to-draw-4-4-with-sierra-leone-in-afcon-2021/9p9kpsh"> draw the game 4-4 before a goalless </a>draw four days later away at Freetown.&nbsp;

While expressing his disappointment in the results on Twitter, Dare launched an attack on Super Eagles coach Rohr and said Nigerian football deserves better.&nbsp;

“The performance of the Super Eagles from their last two matches calls to question the suitability and competences of Technical Adviser, Rohr,” the Minister wrote on Twitter.&nbsp;

<div class="embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The performance of the Super Eagles from their last two matches calls to question the suitability and competences of Technical Adviser, Rohr. Nigerian football deserves better. The needful will be done. Apologies to all football lovers.&mdash; Sunday Dare,CON (@SundayDareSD) <a href="https://twitter.com/SundayDareSD/status/1329080598942543873?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 18, 2020</a></blockquote>
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“Nigerian football deserves better. The needful will be done. Apologies to all football lovers.”&nbsp;

Dare was with the Super Eagles in Benin and joined them in a light training session a day before the first leg in Sierra Leone.&nbsp;

Despite the results against Sierra Leone, the Super Eagles are still top of Group L of the qualifiers with eight points from four games and are on course to seal qualification with a win from their next two games.&nbsp;

Sunday Dare and Gernot Rohr (Twitter/Sunday Dare)

Sports Minister says the needful will be done after questioning Rohr's competence.

Sports Minister Sunday Dare questions the competence of Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr following 2 draws against Sierra Leone

Jude Egbas

<h1>Nigeria’s Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, delved into exercise mode during a retreat on effective service delivery.</h1>

The retreat held in the nation’s capital city of Abuja on Monday, November 16, 2020.

Dressed in a traditional attire called Kaftan with a handwoven cap to match, Pantami did the press-up and the balancing act without breaking a sweat, while basking in the attention.

<div class="embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">STAYING FIT TO DELIVER EFFECTIVE SERVICE! The Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, <a href="https://twitter.com/DrIsaPantami?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DrIsaPantami</a> demonstrating to management Staff of the Ministry some exercise tips during the ongoing 2-day retreat. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DigitalNigeria?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DigitalNigeria</a> <a href="https://t.co/jUUNFRGOvL">pic.twitter.com/jUUNFRGOvL</a>&mdash; Fed. Min. of Comms, Innovation &amp; Digital Economy (@FMCIDENigeria) <a href="https://twitter.com/FMCIDENigeria/status/1328360029091733504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 16, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<div class="embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">STAYING FIT TO DELIVER EFFECTIVE SERVICE! The Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, <a href="https://twitter.com/DrIsaPantami?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DrIsaPantami</a> demonstrating to management Staff of the Ministry some exercise tips during the ongoing 2-day retreat. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DigitalNigeria?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DigitalNigeria</a> <a href="https://t.co/rCVqLqMfVD">pic.twitter.com/rCVqLqMfVD</a>&mdash; Fed. Min. of Comms, Innovation &amp; Digital Economy (@FMCIDENigeria) <a href="https://twitter.com/FMCIDENigeria/status/1328362074821550080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 16, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Pantami joins Sports Minister Sunday Dare and Football Federation President Amaju Pinnick in the performative act of keeping fit before the cameras, in recent times.

<div class="embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Hopefully, the return leg will be better... <a href="https://t.co/obcBUDlBbx">pic.twitter.com/obcBUDlBbx</a>&mdash; Temisan Okomi (@temiokomi) <a href="https://twitter.com/temiokomi/status/1327322604236120068?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Dare and Pinnick gatecrashed a training session of the men’s national football team, the Super Eagles, just hours before a crucial Nations Cup qualifying game with Sierra Leone on November 13.&nbsp;

<div class="embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">SUNDAY DARE AND Amaju Pinnick killed us for this game... 😂😂 <a href="https://t.co/i2OvnWTkhn">pic.twitter.com/i2OvnWTkhn</a>&mdash; Seyi &#39;Barrack Boy&#39; Alao (@alao_seyi) <a href="https://twitter.com/alao_seyi/status/1327312078567321600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2020</a></blockquote>
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The Eagles <a href="https://www.pulse.ng/sports/football/we-are-very-sorry-ahmed-musa-apologises-over-super-eagles-performance-against-sierra/d9w9y8e">squandered a four-goal lead</a> during the encounter; eventually drawing the game 4-4, with neither Dare nor Pinnick anywhere near the match-day squad to bail out the boys they had trained with for the photo-ops.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, @DrIsaPantami demonstrating to management Staff of the Ministry some exercise tips during the ongoing 2-day retreat (Twitter: @FMOCDENigeria)

Pantami put up a show for his subordinates on a humid day in the nation's capital.

Communications Minister Pantami stuns audience with exercise drills during retreat

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<h1>Alhaja Sikiratu Yekini, who is the mother of late Super Eagles great Rashidi Yekini on Wednesday, May 6 received food items from Nigeria’s Minister of Sports Sunday Dare.&nbsp;</h1>

Since the death of the striker in May 2012, his surviving mother has been living in penury.&nbsp;

To support her, Dare, represented by Olaitan Shittu visited Alhaja Sikiratu at her residence in Offa in Kwara State and donated various foodstuffs and provisions including a 50kg bag of rice, a 10kg bag of wheat, six tins of Milo as well as a cash gift of N50,000.

Olaitan Shittu who represented Sunday Dare also gave Alhaja Sikiratu Yekini a cash gift (Twitter/Olaitan Shittu)

The Ministry of Youth and Sports Development which Dare heads has also placed Alhaja Sikiratu, on a monthly stipend of N10, 000

It was also revealed that the minister had made a similar donation to Yekini’s aged mother in September 2019.&nbsp;

Late Yekini who died eight years ago in Ibadan is currently the highest goalscorer in Super Eagles history.&nbsp;

Rashidi Yekini scored 37 goals for Nigeria and won an AFCON title

ALSO READ:<a href="https://www.pulse.ng/sports/football/nff-and-mutiu-adepoju-lead-tribute-for-late-super-eagles-great-rashidi-yekini-as/kwlj0vm"> How Nigerians paid tribute to late Rashidi Yekini</a>

The 1993 African Footballer of the Year represented Nigeria in five major tournaments, including two World Cup competitions where he scored the country’s first-ever goal in the competition USA 94.&nbsp;

With the Super Eagles, he also won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title in Tunisia.&nbsp;

On Monday, May 4 was the eighth anniversary of his death and it was marked with tributes from Nigerians on Twitter.&nbsp;

Olaitan Shittu and Alhaja Sikiratu Yekini (Twitter/Olaitan Shittu)

Yekini's mum has also been placed on a monthly stipend of N10, 000 by the  Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.

Sports Minister Sunday Dare donates food items to mother of late Super Eagles great Rashidi Yekini

<h1>President of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the postponement of the 2020 National Sports Festival.</h1>

The festival which was to be held from Sunday, March 22 to Wednesday, April 1 in Edo State has now been postponed.&nbsp;

The postponement was ordered by Buhari after he was briefed of the danger of the festival happening amidst the outbreak of coronavirus by the sports minister Sunday Dare and his health counterpart Osagie Ehanire.&nbsp;

“President Mohammadu Buhari approves the postponement of the National Sports Festival Edo 2020 as a precautionary move against COVID-19 spread,” Dare said on Twitter.&nbsp;

<div class="embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Following the briefing of Mr. President from myself and the Minister of State for Health on COVID 19, Mr. President approved the immediate postponement of Edo Sports festival to a future date&mdash; Sunday Dare,CON (@SundayDareSD) <a href="https://twitter.com/SundayDareSD/status/1239859715313741824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2020</a></blockquote>
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“Following the briefing of Mr. President from myself and the Minister of State for Health on COVID 19, Mr. President approved the immediate postponement of Edo Sports festival to a future date.”&nbsp;

The briefing came after a third case of the virus was confirmed in Nigeria by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Tuesday, March 17.&nbsp;

Several persons also raised concerns about athletes coming in from the virus-hit European countries for the festival.

The National Sports Festival is a biennial multi-sport event organized by the Federal Government of Nigeria through the National Sports Commission for athletes from the 36 States of Nigeria.

There was a six-year absence before it returned to <a data-link-role-code="none" href="https://www.pulse.ng/2018-national-sports-festival-5-things-we-learnt-from-abuja/bvmnjtg">Abuja in 2018</a>.&nbsp;

Moyo Ogunseinde supporting team Lagos at the 19th National Sports Festival held at the National Stadium in Abuja

The order comes after a third case of the coronavirus was confirmed in Nigeria.

President Buhari orders postponement of 2020 National Sports Festival to curb the spread of coronavirus

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<h1>Nigeria’s minister of sports Sunday Dare has ordered the refund of N23m ($65000) to the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) to complete the debt Nigeria owes to the federation. </h1>

The IAAF in 2017 wrongly credited the account of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) to the tune of N43m ($135000) which has been difficult to get back.

After much pressure, Nigeria did pay back some of the sums under the former minister of sports Solomon Dalung but the complete refund has been held back.

Part of the money had been paid under former minister Solomon Dalung

Dare who just resumed the office as the new minister of sports has now ordered the refund of the remaining sum.

“IAAF- I have approved the release of funds to refund the IAAF overpayment wrongly credited to the Athletics Federation of Nigeria,” Dare said on Twitter.

<div class="embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">IAAF- I have approved the release of funds to refund the IAAF overpayment wrongly credited to the Athletics Federation of Nigeria. In a few days from now the funds should hit the account of the IAAF baring any interbank delays. With this Nigeria’s reputation is regained.&mdash; Sunday Dare,CON (@SundayDareSD) <a href="https://twitter.com/SundayDareSD/status/1187039759031554050?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 23, 2019</a></blockquote>
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“In a few days from now the funds should hit the account of the IAAF barring any interbank delays. With this Nigeria’s reputation is regained.”

He later clarified that he approved the sum of N23m ($6500) the sum remaining after the initial payment from the AFN under the former minister.

“Re: IAAF refund approval is for the outstanding balance of $65,000-sixty five thousand US dollars,” Nigeria’s minister of sports added.

<div class="embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Re: IAAF refund approval is for the outstanding balance of $65,000-sixty five thousand US dollars. The first trench of the refund was made by the former Minister. I have only completed the refund because it is the right thing to do.&mdash; Sunday Dare,CON (@SundayDareSD) <a href="https://twitter.com/SundayDareSD/status/1187104950893064192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 23, 2019</a></blockquote>
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“The first trench of the refund was made by the former Minister. I have only completed the refund because it is the right thing to do.”

Dare is making sure Nigeria is paying back the complete sum after IAAF wrongly credit the account of the IAAF.

Sports minister Sunday Dare orders refund of N23M to IAAF to complete debt to the federation

<h1>President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari has sworn in veteran journalist Sunday Akin Dare as the new minister of sports.</h1>

Dare was among the 43 ministers that were sworn into office by President Buhari at the State House in Abuja on Wednesday, August 21.

The 53-year-old will now take over the portfolio of the Minister of Youth and Sports which was held by the <a href="https://www.pulse.ng/sports/football/solomon-dalung-was-a-pr-disaster-but-he-didnt-fail-in-his-job-as-a-sports-minister/k3btl75" link="null">controversial Solomon Dalung</a> in Buhari’s first term in office.

Before his appointment as a minister, Dare was the Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management of the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC). His replacement at the NCC has already been announced.

Dare who was born in Jos hails from Oyo State and attended the Oyo State College of Arts and Science in Ile-Ife (Old Oyo State).

Sunday Akin Dare is a veteran and award-winning journalist (Twitter/Sunday Dare)

He studied International Studies at Ahmadu Bello University and graduated in 1991. He later obtained a Master of Arts (MA) in Law and Diplomacy from the University of Jos.

A veteran journalist, Dare served as Chief, Hausa Service, African Division of Voice of America (VOA) in Washington DC and was also a correspondent for a slew of foreign magazines and newspapers.

In Nigeria, he was a pioneer member of the weekly The News and Tempo where he served as an Editor.

Dare has a host of awards, both in and outside Nigeria to his name. He won the Voice of America Meritorious Honour Award in 2009 in recognition of his leadership and professional contributions in Africa and diaspora.

He also once served as a media adviser/Chief of Staff to former Lagos State Governor Bola Tinubu.

Muhammadu Buhari and Sunday Akin Dare (Twitter/Sunday Dare)

The Award-winning journalist was sworn in as a minister at the State House in Abuja.

President Buhari swears in veteran journalist Sunday Dare as sports minister

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