Connect with us

Headline

Tokyo 2020 Olympics: How GCA Energy Rescued Nigeria Baseball and Softball Association

Published

7 years ago

on

As different countries and sports associations are preparing for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics , the dream of the Nigerian Baseball and Softball Association  to participate in the number one sporting event in the world would have been dashed even before it began but for the intervention of an indigenous oil and gas company, GCA Energy.

GCA Energy, the 30 something year old company,  which has been rendering cutting-edge support service in the Nigerian oil and gas sub-sector,  bankrolled the trip of the Nigeria National Teams to Ghana to partake  in the first stage of the qualifiers.

According to Chairman, Tokyo 2020 National Olympic Qualifiers, Engr. Chris Dic-Willie, the support  of GCA Energy  was instrumental to ensuring that the National teams scaled  through the first zonal hurdle.

“This last competition we played in Ghana was such an eye opener for us in terms of achieving growth in Nigeria and internationally.

He told the Guardian that Nigeria is exchanging ideas with other West Africsn as it moves ahead towardd its Tokyo goal.

Dic-Willie who is also the Chairman of the Rivers State Baseball and Softball Association stated that the body also received support from some individuals too. He specifically mentioned  General Ishola Williams  (Rtd) and Dr. Ndi Okereke-Onyuike.

Also speaking on the development, the National Coach, Ike Magnus said that the assistance of more corporate bodies and government would see the team go far. He urged other corporate bodies to emulate GCA Energy.

In his words ” if we can get more support, we can crossover to the Euro/Africa Stage and battle for tickets  to the Olympics.We are more competitive now.

” The European Challenge makes it look quite tough but we are capable .Funding challenges left us camping for.just 10 days  before we went to Ghana but more support  will make things a lot easier.Incentives too will ginger players to extra levels”

He also revealed that possible sponsors including GCA Energy have been contacted to support the teams’ participation at the pre-Olympic qualifiers in Johannesburg, South Africa between May 1-5, 2019.

In South Africa, the ladies are billed to take on hosts South Africa, Botswana and Kenya to earn a ticket to play in Holland  for Softball spot in Tokyo while the men will take on Ghana, Burkina Faso, Tunisia, Congo and hosts South Africa.

 

 

Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Headline

UK Court Acquittal: Diezani Goes Spiritual, Says God Will Always Be God

Published

3 days ago

on

June 18, 2026

By

Nigeria’s former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, has reacted to her acquittal by a London court after bribery charges brought against her were dismissed.

The Southwark Crown Court in London, United Kingdom, on Wednesday acquitted the former minister of all charges, including five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery.

Reacting to the judgment, Alison-Madueke expressed relief and said she and her family had endured years of emotional distress over the case.

Speaking to News Central, she said she has remained in the United Kingdom since the legal proceedings began 11 years ago.

She said: “I’m just thankful to God, it’s been arduous, almost 11 years. It’s been traumatic not just for me but for my family, friends, my 93-year-old mother in Port Harcourt and for my son.

“It has been a hard journey, but I tell you this, God will always do as He will. God will be God and God is not a man that He should lie; when He promises you something, He will see it through.

“For almost 11 years I have been here. I did my job to the best of my ability.”

Continue Reading

Headline

I Never Saw Report that Led to Natasha’s Suspension, Says Ireti Kingibe

Published

3 days ago

on

June 18, 2026

By

The lawmaker representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), at the Senate, Ireti Kingibe, says she did not see any report that led to the suspension of Kogi Central Senator, Natasha  Akpoti-Uduaghan.

Kingibe made this disclosure on Wednesday when she featured in an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Prime Time’.

She said she was at a retreat with Edo North Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, when she heard about the report.

“I never saw the report that led to Natasha’s suspension. I was at a retreat. I had earlier stated that I was there with three or four other senators who are members of the committee.

“We attended the Committee on Petitions and Public Complaints, signed the attendance register, and I later left for the tax reform retreat, which I considered more important at the time.

“It affects my constituents much more than disciplining a senator, and I figured that the other people who were not part of that committee would take care of it.

“I even complained to other Senators, specifically to Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe. I complained to him very bitterly that I had not seen that report. I didn’t see it then. I have not seen it till now,” she said.

Continue Reading

Headline

UK Court Clears Ex-Petroleum Minister Alison-Madueke of All Corruption Charges

Published

4 days ago

on

June 17, 2026

By

Former Nigerian oil minister Diezani Alison-Madueke was on Wednesday found not guilty ​by a London jury of six bribery charges, after ‌a rare corruption trial of a high-profile former energy official.
Alison-Madueke, minister for petroleum resources between 2010 and 2015 under then-president Goodluck Jonathan, stood trial ​charged with five counts of accepting bribes and a ​charge of conspiracy to commit bribery, which she denied.
Prosecutors ⁠alleged Alison-Madueke, 65, was given “a life of luxury” in London ​from oil and gas industry figures seeking lucrative contracts in Nigeria, ​which has long grappled with mismanagement and corruption.
But the former minister, who was also briefly president of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, ​said she never took any bribes and had no real ​influence over the awarding of lucrative government contracts.
After a trial at London’s Southwark ‌Crown ⁠Court, Alison-Madueke was acquitted by a jury of all six charges she faced after more than 46 hours of deliberation.
The not guilty verdicts are a major blow to British authorities, which began their ​investigation into corruption ​allegations against Alison-Madueke ⁠more than a decade ago.
Alison-Madueke stood trial alongside oil industry executive Olatimbo Ayinde, 54, who was ​charged with one count of bribery relating to ​Alison-Madueke ⁠and a separate count of bribery of a foreign public official.
Alison-Madueke’s brother Doye Agama, 69, was charged with conspiracy to commit bribery ⁠with ​his sister relating to payments made to ​Agama’s church.
Both Ayinde and Agama denied the charges against them and were also ​acquitted by the jury.

Source: Reuters

Continue Reading

Trending