By Uche Amunike
President Bola Tinubu has received a warm welcome by King Charles 111, Wednesday, at the Buckingham Palace in London, as he honored the invitation extended him by the British monarch for a private meeting.
This would be the first meeting held by the two leaders after they met in Dubai at the COP 28 Climate Summit last year.
During the meeting, President Bola Tinubu and his British counterpart discussed global and regional matters that affect both countries, focusing on the urgent and complex challenge of climate change.
Speaking through a press statement issued and released by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, he said that both leaders also explored opportunities for synergy in anticipation of the upcoming COP 29 Summit in Azerbaijan and the Commonwealth Wealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa.
During the meeting, President Bola Tinubu laid emphasis Nigeria’s firm commitment to addressing climate change in a way that aligns with the country’s energy security objectives, while stating that the country is ready to adopt global strategies for sustainability.
Both leaders exchanged ideas for innovative approaches to climate, financing and funding, even as they expressed mutual interest in strengthening partnerships by harnessing Nigeria’s leadership position in Africa and the commonwealth.
In another development, President Bola Tinubu has declared the 8th National Youth Games (NYG), holding in Asaba, Delta State, officially open.
He was represented by the Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh John, who described the NYG as a beacon of hope for the country’s sports.
During his speech, President Bola Tinubu tasked stakeholders in the sports industry to support the Ministry of Sports Development in their efforts to turn around the fortune of the sports sector, for the better.
He stated: ‘There is no better time than now to stage this National Youth Games after our participation at the Paris Olympics and Paralympics. Though our athletes did better at the Paralympics, there is an urgent need to re-strategize for Nigeria’s sports to return to winning ways. One of the reasons our sports is on the decline is age falsification. We need to get it right at this level.’
He continued: ‘My administration is dedicated to repositioning sports for a better tomorrow. When I came here for the opening ceremony of the seventh edition of the National Youth Games last year, I was barely two weeks old in office. I can proudly say that there is a drastic improvement in the opening ceremony this year.’
In his welcome address by the Delta States Governor, Rt Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, he explained that the NYG presents the opportunity to discover young athletes that will replace the aging ones, stating that Delta state was the home of sports in Nigeria and will continue to set the pace.
His words: ‘Nigeria’s performance at major international sporting events is on the decline. It may not be the problem of the sports minister.’
‘We need to tackle the issue together. I expect old records to be broken and new ones set in this year’s National Youth Games. Delta is proud to partner with the Federal Ministry of Sports in hosting this Games to reposition our sports.’
