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Iloenyosi endorses FCT Correspondents Chapel football tournament
Former Super Eagles defender, Chikelue Iloenyosi has endorsed the football tournament of the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council.
Iloenyosi, who is the current Chairman of Anambra State Football Association, was a member of Nigeria’s team to the FIFA U20 World Cup on home soil in 1999.
Popularly known as The General, Iloenyosi endorsed the NUJ FCT Correspondents Chapel football tournament in Abuja on Friday when executives and members of the Chapel led by Chairman Jide Oyekunle paid him a courtesy visit.
Speaking during the visit, the Anambra FA Chairman disclosed he does not joke with journalists, and that he is excited about the prospect of the football tournament.
“I do not joke with journalists. I am very happy that the NUJ FCT Correspondents Chapel deemed me fit as the ambassador of the football tournament. 
“I am excited about the prospect of the football tournament, which I learnt is to strengthen the relationship among participating organisations. I fully endorse the tournament,” Iloenyosi said.
Earlier, Chairman of NUJ FCT Correspondents Chapel had disclosed that the visit was to express gratitude and sincere appreciation to the former Super Eagles defender for accepting the request to be the ambassador and the face of the tournament.
Comrade Oyekunle informed Iloenyosi that the football tournament will hold between July 11th and 13th, 2024 and that the draws for the tournament will take place on June 18th, when the Anambra FA Chairman would be unveiled officially as the ambassador of the tournament.
“We are here to express our gratitude and sincere appreciation to you for accepting our request to be the ambassador and the face of our tournament.
“Your contribution to sports development within and outside the country will continue to be a reference point. We consider your positive disposition to our request as honour and privilege. We do not take it for granted but with gratitude,” Oyekunle said.
Speaking on the essence of the football tournament, the NUJ FCT Correspondents Chapel Chairman said it is to strengthen the friendly relationship among the participating organisations through football.
Oyekunle listed the participating organisations to include: Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Federal High Court (FHC) and Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).
Others he said are: National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), National Orientation Agency (NOA), Sports Writer Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and Correspondents Chapel football team and amongst others.
Oyekunle said: “The 3-day tournament will be held at the Area 10 football field by Old Parade Ground. It is aimed at providing avenues for journalists and security agencies and government organisations to come together as one family with the aim of strengthening friendly relationships through football.
“Sport does not have a language. Sport is an integral activity that unites the people and has the power to change the world irrespective of religion, ethnic and political background.
“Football makes people forget their differences because it is a unifying factor. It heals wounds and bonds people together.
“This is our own little way of contributing and lending our voice to national unity, peace and harmony.
“As a media friendly football legend in the country, you have been a role model in your chosen career for the younger generation.
“Your exceptional and invaluable contributions towards sports development within and outside the country will continue to be a reference point in the annals of history.
“You have impacted so many lives through your humanitarian programmes and projects and this kind gesture will continue to resonate and never go unnoticed.
“It is my pleasure to also inform you that the formal unveiling as ambassador will come up on Tuesday June 18th by 12 pm at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja during the Pre Tournament Press Conference and draw.
“As Ambassador you will also help to supervise the draw which will be attended by the sports enthusiasts, dignitaries, the representatives and team leaders of the participating organisations.
Highlight of the visit was the presentation of a gigantic thank you card to the former Super Eagles defender. The NUJ FCT Correspondents Chapel football tournament is in its 2nd Edition.
President Bola Tinubu has expressed sadness over the victims of the tragic incident at a children’s funfair in Ibadan, Oyo State, which claimed innocent lives and left many others injured.
A day after the tragic incident, 35 minors have been confirmed dead in a stampede at a funfair held at Islamic High School, Orita Bashorun, the state capital.
The President in a statement by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, extended his condolences to the government and people of Oyo State and, most importantly, to the grieving families who have lost their children in the unfortunate event.
President Tinubu has urgently directed the relevant authorities to investigate the circumstances of this tragedy thoroughly,” the statement read.
The President extends his heartfelt condolences to the Government and people of Oyo State, as well as to the grieving families who have lost their beloved children.
“In this moment of mourning, President Tinubu stands in solidarity with the affected families and offers prayers that the Almighty God will grant peace to the souls of those who have departed in this unfortunate event.”
Tinubu highlighted that it is imperative to determine whether negligence or deliberate actions contributed to this painful incident, ensuring a transparent and accountable process.
He also urged the Oyo State Government to take every necessary measure to prevent such a tragedy from reoccurring.
Among the essential actions are a comprehensive review of all public events’ safety measures, strict enforcement of safety regulations, and regular safety audits of event venues.
“Furthermore, President Tinubu calls on event organisers to prioritise the safety of all attendees, especially children. He stresses the importance of integrating professional security, protocol, and logistics at events to ensure the utmost safety of all participants,” the statement read.
He reiterated his administration’s commitment to the safety and well-being of children, arguing that no event should ever compromise their safety or take precedence over their lives.
The Chairman of the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority, ECTDA, Rt. Hon. Uche Anya has narrated how soldiers from 82 Division of the Nigeria Army invaded his residence by 2.30am and destroyed his residence for carrying out a town planning regulation on an army property in Enugu.
According to Anya, the soldiers who some of them were on mufti, in the wee hours of Sunday morning, invaded his residence with armoured personnel carriers, forcefully jumped into his compound and destroyed most parts of his house and abducted him.
His offence, he explained, was that he demolished a fence that was being made round an army property at GRA area of the Coal City, which the army did not obtain approval plan and permit from his office before embarking on the construction.
“We pleaded with them that we are from the ECTDA and needed to see their approved plan and permit but they asked me to call the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division, Enugu.
“We insisted on seeing their approval, which they did not provide, leading to our stopping them from working and marking the place with ‘Stop Work’ notice immediately.”
He said that he thereafter reached out to the GOC and informed him about what transpired, but that the army said that they were trying to secure their land.
“I told him that under our law, once a development is taking place in the capital territory, there must be permission. So, three days later, in the course of our routine work, we discovered that they had wiped out our stop work order and proceeded with the work. We rolled down our equipment and pulled down the fence because they reneged on our agreement,” Anya narrated.
The Capital Territory Chairman said that two hours later, he started noticing strange movement around his street, with some people taking photographs.
“So, around 2:30a.m, two Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) arrived on my street. Some people in mufti with guns jumped into my compound and I was seeing them through my CCTV. They tried to break into the house but it took them almost 90 minutes to break in through the kitchen.”
When our correspondent visited Anya’s residence, there was a total smash of most properties in the house starting from the gate to the entrance door and windows, television sets, CCTV cameras and so many other things were in complete ruin.
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