Kiin360 Blog Sports NSC Thumbs Up Foniso, Eyes Partnership to Bolster Sports Talent
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NSC Thumbs Up Foniso, Eyes Partnership to Bolster Sports Talent

The National Sports Commission (NSC), under the leadership of Director General Bukola Olopade, has given its official endorsement to Foniso, describing it as Africa’s pioneering social sports platform. This move underscores the NSC’s commitment to leveraging digital innovation to elevate local sports talent and revolutionize athlete management.

Recognizing the transformative power of technology in sports, the NSC is actively seeking strategic partnerships with industry stakeholders. Their aim is to harness digital platforms like Foniso to enhance talent scouting, athlete development, and sports promotion, ensuring that homegrown talents receive the recognition they deserve on a global scale.

Dominic Essien, the founder of Foniso, expressed his delight at the NSC’s endorsement, stating that it reinforces the platform’s mission to revolutionize sports networking and career advancement. He emphasized that with the backing of the NSC and key industry players, Foniso is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of African sports through technology.

Essien highlighted the critical issue of visibility for local athletes, stating, “Over 50 percent of local sports talents do not have visibility online, thereby hindering their exposure to a global audience.”

The NSC’s endorsement comes at a time when digitalization is rapidly transforming the sports landscape, enabling real-time engagement, detailed athlete profiling, and diverse monetization opportunities. Foniso’s innovative approach aligns perfectly with the NSC’s vision of empowering local talents, strengthening sports administration, and enhancing Nigeria’s global competitiveness in sports.

Foniso operates as a dynamic sports tech platform, providing a digital hub where athletes, clubs, coaches, scouts, and agents can connect, showcase their skills, and access growth opportunities. With the NSC’s support, the platform is set to expand its reach, fostering increased visibility for both budding and professional sports personalities across Nigeria and beyond.

As Foniso and the NSC move forward with this collaboration, industry stakeholders, investors, and sports enthusiasts are encouraged to join the movement, ensuring that digital platforms drive the next wave of sports excellence in Africa.

In Bayelsa State, the wheels of justice appear to be grinding exceedingly slow for some former domestic workers of ex-First Lady Patience Jonathan. These individuals, who have been held at the Okaka Custodial Centre since 2019, are decrying their alleged maltreatment and the excruciatingly delayed trial, claiming they are enduring hardship and torture.

Speaking exclusively to Saturday PUNCH, two of the workers pleaded for help, lamenting their prolonged incarceration. According to reports, the case has suffered at least 40 adjournments since it began in 2019, leaving the accused in a state of legal limbo.

Among those affected are Williams Alami, Vincent Olabiyi, Ebuka Cosmos, and a host of others. They face charges before the High Court of Bayelsa, sitting in Yenagoa, accused of stealing items including seven gold bangles, jewelry, Samsung air conditioners, upholstery chairs, and flat-screen televisions—all valued at a staggering N200 million.

Beyond the alleged theft, the accused also face severe charges, including conspiracy to commit murder, armed robbery, burglary, and stealing. One of the charges specifically accuses the defendants of conspiring to kill Patience Jonathan sometime in June 2019.

One of the detainees, speaking from prison, asserted their innocence, stating that the police have yet to present any concrete evidence against them. “We have been in prison since 2019. We were domestic staff of the former first lady, Patience Jonathan… since then, there is no evidence to prove to the court, and the case is not proceeding; she is still waiting for witnesses to come till today,” the worker lamented.

Another inmate alleged mistreatment, claiming they were being targeted on the orders of the former first lady. According to the inmate, they were subjected to torture at the police station and threatened with further harm.

Families of the accused have called on the Attorney General of the Federation, the National Human Rights Commission, and the Chief Judge of Bayelsa State to intervene and bring an end to what they see as the unlawful detention of their loved ones. They are demanding a speedy trial and justice for the accused.

Gladys Achese, the sister of one of the detainees, expressed her anguish, describing her visits to her sister in prison as traumatizing. She revealed that her parents had pleaded with Mrs. Jonathan, but to no avail.

Steve Ibiene, the brother of another detainee, echoed these sentiments, calling for a swift trial. He criticized the prolonged detention without a proper verdict and suggested that the accused should be released if found not guilty.

Adding another layer of complexity to the case, Boma Hubert, the brother of another detainee, alleged that his brother was accused of stealing jewelry at the presidential villa in Abuja, despite working at the former first lady’s hotel in Otuoke. He attributed the continued detention to Mrs. Jonathan’s failure to appear in court since the case commenced in 2019.

According to reports, efforts by a human rights organization, Tech4Justice, to secure the release of the defendants on bail have been unsuccessful. Funmi Adedoyin, a legal associate of the group, stated that the prosecution has yet to close its case and that the accused persons have not opened their defense. She revealed that the matter has been adjourned more than 40 times between 2019 and 2025.

Adedoyin also highlighted the absence of police prosecutors in court, further stalling proceedings. She noted that the frequent transfers of police officers handling the case have contributed to the delays.

Disturbingly, Adedoyin revealed that beyond the alleged theft, the 15 domestic staff were charged with conspiracy to kill the former first lady. This charge, she alleges, was a tactic to ensure they would not be granted bail.

As of the time of filing this report, efforts to get a reaction from Mrs. Jonathan proved abortive.

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