ENUGU – Enugu State will host the 23rd edition of the National Sports Festival after clinching the hosting rights following competitive bids by many states of the federation. This is even as the state governor, Dr Peter Mbah, has been scheduled to present the much anticipated 2025 budget at the floor of the State House of Assembly on Tuesday. The developments were disclosed to the Government House correspondents at the weekend by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Barr Lloyd Ekweremadu, and the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Hon Chris Ozongwu, shortly after the State Executive Council meeting which was presided over by the governor. This is the first time any state in the South East Nigeria will be hosting the prestigious festival since inception in 1973, making Enugu the premier state to set the stage open. With Enugu winning the hosting rights, the commissioner reiterated the government’s commitment to deliver a world-class event that will enhance the festival’s legacy of excellence, inclusivity, international outlook, and discovery of potential sports stars. Barr Ekweremadu attributed the emergence of Enugu state as the hosting state to Governor Mbah’s leadership strides and huge investment in the sports’ industry, adding that plans were on ground to upgrade and develop sports infrastructure in the state. “The development strides that Enugu State is recording under the leadership of Governor Peter Mbah are a determining factor in winning the hosting rights. Council noted that in order to deliver a world-class sports festival, government must invest in upgrading and developing our sports infrastructure, particularly the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, and the Awgu Games Village,” he further stressed. The sports festival is expected to attract over 15000 athletes that will be participating in the events to Enugu where talents will be showcased and new ones discovered. Meanwhile, Hon Ozongwu said the draft of the 2025 Appropriation Bill was presented to the Executive Council where it was approved for presentation after rigorous evaluation and interrogation. “Both the medium term expenditure framework (MTEF) and the budget proposal were unanimously approved by the council after much deliberation, evaluation and interrogation. “This, therefore, sets the stage for His Excellency to submit the Appropriation Bill to the House of Assembly early next week. As is usual, this bill is subject to House approval,” the commissioner added.

Despite the heated exchanges and physical battles, the true beauty of the game shone through in moments of individual brilliance and collective teamwork. Both teams displayed moments of magic, showcasing their skills and talents to the delight of the spectators.

Hidalgo leads No. 6 Notre Dame over JuJu Watkins and third-ranked USC 74-61 in big matchup out WestHindu monk and minority leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari has been arrested in Dhaka, sparking concerns among the Hindu community in Bangladesh. The detention comes amidst ongoing tensions over minority rights and rising political violence following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Arrest Follows Minority Rights Protests in Rangpur The arrest follows protests by the Hindu community in Rangpur, approximately 300 km from Dhaka, demanding stronger legal protections and the creation of a dedicated ministry for minority affairs. “I just received the shocking news that Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a Hindu monk & the face and leader of Bangladeshi minorities in these difficult times, has been arrested by the Dhaka police and taken to an undisclosed location. Kind attention,” wrote Radharamn Das, an ISKCON spokesperson, tagging Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and the Indian High Commission in Dhaka. Sedition Case Linked to Outspoken Advocacy Bangladeshi authorities have not released an official statement, but reports indicate Brahmachari was detained at Dhaka airport earlier this week. His arrest is believed to be linked to a sedition case filed earlier this month over his vocal stance against violence targeting Hindus. Escalation of Violence Against Minorities Hindus constitute around 8% of Bangladesh’s 170 million population. Since the change in government, the military-backed interim regime led by Mohammed Yunus has faced criticism for failing to address increasing attacks on minorities. In recent months, Hindu businesses, homes, and temples have faced vandalism. Earlier this month, sedition charges were filed against 19 participants in a minority rights rally in Chittagong. Calls for Action From Indian Leaders BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari condemned the arrest, highlighting Brahmachari’s efforts to protect Hindu minorities. “Renowned firebrand Hindu Leader; Shri Chinmoy Krishna Das Prabhu has been abducted by the Detective Branch at Dhaka Airport in Bangladesh. He is leading the fight for the survival & dignity of the Hindu Minorities of Bangladesh. The Bangladeshi Sanatani Community fear that Md Yunus’s ‘Radical’ Regime may stoop to any level, even eliminate ‘perceived threats’ to its authority. I urge @DrSJaishankar Ji to kindly take note of the matter and take urgent steps,” Adhikari posted on social media. Arrest Seen as Attempt to Silence Dissent Kanchan Gupta, a senior advisor to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, described the arrest as “a targeted move to stifle voices of protest.” “Hindu leader and ISKCON monk Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari is reported arrested in Dhaka by Yunus Regime Police. Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari was charged with sedition after he led a massive rally of Hindus protesting targeted hate attacks and demanding protection from Islamists. Tallest leader of the Hindu community, Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari is believed to have been taken to Detective Branch of Yunus Regime,” Gupta wrote. Government Defends Actions Amid Criticism The interim regime has defended its minority protection measures, pointing to enhanced security during Durga Puja, celebrated at over 32,000 venues nationwide. However, activists argue these efforts fall short in addressing the underlying issues. The interim government recently announced plans for electoral reforms and a new election roadmap, but critics question its commitment to democracy amidst reports of targeted violence against minorities. Read More : Portuguese Celebrity Accused Of Abusing His 95-Year-Old American Wife

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