Sports

SPORTS MINISTER INSPECTS NATIONAL STADIUM, SURULERE LAGOS

Published

3 years ago

September 1, 2023

…Identifies public-private partnership as key to sports development
In continuation of his inspection tour of sporting facilities across the country, the Honourable Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Enoh has inspected the facilities at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

He stated that the tour he is undertaking informs the commitment of the present administration towards the development of sports in the country.

Senator Enoh who disclosed this while addresssing the media shortly after the inspection of the facilities today, explained that sports is a peculiar sector that exerts so much passion in all Nigerians. This passion he added, led to the decision of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to make the sector stand alone and also appointed him to pilot its affairs.

He explained further that the facility which was built in the 60’s, has been put to use functionally in previous competitions, including the 2nd All African Games in 1973.

Thus, if resuscitated, it will provide opportunity for the athletes not only to develop themselves but also showcase their sporting talents, thereby competiting favourably with their counterparts globally through podium finishes.

The Minister restated the Federal Government’s committment to the revitalization of the sporting facilities across the country in order to bring it back to its former glory, saying *we will do all it takes to bring back the glory of the sporting facilities across the nation with a view to providing our athletes with an enabling environment to thrive in their various sporting endeavours.

Senator Enoh who stated that the process of concessioning of the National Stadium, Surulere has gone far, added that if that is what it will take to restore the glory of the facility, he endorses it 100 percent.

He noted that President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Administration identifies with the private sector, especially those who collaborate and join hands with government in resuscitating the dilapidated sporting facilities.

He therefore thanked private partners like Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Chief Kessington Adebutu for their contributions towards sports development in the country, adding that Nigeria appreciates their efforts and investments in uplifting some of the sporting facilities in the country.

Senator Enoh informed that both Chief Kessington Adebutu and Aliko Dangote collaborated with the Ministry in the resuscitation of some facilities at the National Stadium, Surulere as well as the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

The Minister therefore called on all relevant stakeholders, sports loving Nigerians, and the media in particular through positive reportage, to join hands with the Federal Government in ensuring a turn around of the sector, not only through infrastructure upgrade but grassroots sports development for the socio-economic growth and development of the country.

Enoh who was accompanied on the facility tour by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar, Director General, National Institute of Sports, Prof. Olawale Moronkola, some Directors of the Ministry as well as one time Football Legend, Daniel Amokachi, inspected the boxing complex, mainbowl of the stadium, sports medical centre, indoor sports hall, Games Village hostels, Legacy Pitch, the National Institute of Sports, (NIS),Power House, as well as the courts for different sports.

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Sports

Plateau Vipers, Benue Queens Crowned Champions at HFN North Central Division One Tourney

Published

9 hours ago

October 3, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The President of the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN), Jibril Seidu, has said the federation will continue to intensify its grassroots talent development drive through zonal competitions across the country.

Seidu stated this on Saturday in Abuja at the finals of the 2026 North Central Division One Handball Championship, where Plateau Vipers defeated Suleja Shooters 29-24 to emerge champions in the men’s category.

In the women’s final, Benue Queens of Makurdi defeated City Queens of Suleja to claim the title.

The eight-day tournament featured teams from across the North Central Zone, with Plateau Vipers of Jos, Confluence Stars of Lokoja, Unity Boys of Abuja, Suleja Shooters and Nasarawa Ambassadors of Lafia competing in the men’s category.

In the women’s category, Nuela Handball Academy of Ilorin, Inikpi Babes of Idah, Benue Queens of Makurdi and City Queens of Suleja competed for honours.

At the end of the competition, four teams — two male and two female — emerged as the North Central Zone’s representatives for the national Division One league.

According to Seidu, the tournament was organised as part of the federation’s deliberate strategy to take handball development back to the regions and discover talents that might otherwise remain unnoticed.

He said the HFN board, inaugurated on October 25, 2025, resolved that grassroots development was essential to creating a sustainable pipeline of players for national and international competitions.

“All the teams you have seen here are from the North Central Zone of the country, and every state is represented with an academy or state team,” he said.

Seidu explained that the new approach marked a departure from the previous system, where talent identification was largely centred on the federation’s major league competitions.

He said taking competitions to the regions would provide young players with greater opportunities to showcase their abilities while strengthening the foundation of handball across the country.

The HFN president also linked the grassroots initiative to Nigeria’s recent achievements in international handball, stressing the need to develop younger players who can eventually replace members of the current national teams.

He noted that Nigeria had qualified for the 2027 Men’s Junior Handball World Championship in North Macedonia, describing the achievement as evidence of the potential within the country’s handball system.

“How do we replace these players with upcoming players? This is the avenue for us to get players,” he said.

Seidu added that the federation was determined to make handball more visible and accessible, describing it as one of Nigeria’s major sporting disciplines with significant potential for growth.

The North Central tournament is part of a wider zonal programme designed to decentralise handball development across Nigeria.

According to the federation, similar competitions are being organised across other zones, including the South East, North East, North West and South South, with qualifiers from each zone expected to converge at a designated venue for the next stage of the competition.

The federation also appealed for greater support from sponsors, stakeholders and state associations to sustain its grassroots development programme.

It expressed appreciation to the participating states, academies, team sponsors and other stakeholders for their support and commitment to the growth of handball in Nigeria.

The federation said the initiative would provide a platform for discovering the next generation of Nigerian handball stars while expanding the sport’s reach beyond its traditional centres.
While Speaking the elated coach of Benue Queen Godwin Tondo has promised a stronger and more tactical performance after guiding the team to victory at the 2026 North Central Division One Handball Championship in Abuja.
He attributed the success to the team’s long-term youth development programme, noting that the squad was built through a deliberate process of identifying and nurturing young talents.
According to him, the programme began with the selection of 92 girls from secondary schools, who were subsequently trained and developed over a four-year period.

He said the team’s success was a product of sustained hard work and commitment despite the challenges encountered during preparations for the tournament.

“I feel very pleased being a champion today. The road to this stage was very, very hard, but I am very happy that we have got the result from all the toughness of the game,” he said.

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