Sports
Arewa Group Berates Sports Minister’s Gutter Tactics, Says Senator Enoh Response to Hon.Adams An Assault
Joel Ajayi
Arewa Youth Sports Forum on Saturday berated Sports Minister, Senator John Owan Enoh for employing gutter tactics, by attempting to discredit and deflect the issues as advanced by the House Committee Chairman, Hon. Ekene Adams.
A statement signed by the Coordinator of the group, Comrade Yohanna Pam described the Sports Minister’s response as disappointing and a blatant attempt to divert attention from the substantive issues raised by the Honorable Member.
The statement reads,”It is concerning to observe the recent Press Release issued by the Federal Ministry of Sports Development, specifically targeting Hon. Ekene Adams and questioning his credibility and sincerity. While the Ministry attempts to defend the Honourable Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, it is imperative to address certain points raised in the Press Release.
“First and foremost, it is disappointing to note the Ministry’s attempt to discredit Hon. Ekene Adams based on his health issues. Implying that his health condition renders him incompetent and out of touch with reality is not only insensitive but a blatant attempt to divert attention from the substantive issues raised by the Honorable Member. It is crucial to remember that personal attacks have no place in constructive discourse, especially within the realm of public service.
“Furthermore, the Ministry’s assertion and attempt to belittle the office of that Hon. Adams, reflects a lack of understanding of the principles of democracy and the importance of upholding the dignity of elected representatives. Every individual elected, regardless of their office is higher than a political appointee.Hence,lawmakers deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.The lack of transparency and accountability in Senator Enoh’s approach to sports administration has raised concerns among stakeholders, including Hon. Adams, who has highlighted the need for a more responsible and competent leadership in the sector.” Pam statement reads.
The statement asked the Sports Minister to stop blaming the CBN for the failure of foreign athletes to receive their payments, noting that his actions is bringing the government President Tinubu to disrepute.
“While defending the Honourable Minister of Sports Development is understandable, it is essential to address the concerns raised by Hon. Adams in a transparent and respectful manner. Constructive dialogue and open communication are key to fostering trust and accountability in governance.Rather than addressing pressing issues such as the delayed payments to foreign athletes who excelled at the African Games in Ghana, as questioned by Hon.Adams, the Minister and Ministry resulted to assault on the lawmaker.We know before now, Senator Enoh has resorted to deflecting blame onto the Central Bank, despite its proven efficiency under the leadership of Olayemi Cardoso, and by extension bringing the Government of President Tinubu to disrepute.
“It is evident that Senator Enoh’s tenure as sports minister has been characterized by self-glorification and a disregard for the hard work and dedication of athletes and federation presidents who strive for excellence in sports. His failure to address the challenges facing the sports sector, has only served to exacerbate the existing issues. In contrast, the call for cooperation and collaboration with Hon. Adams, a respected figure in sports with a rich history as both an athlete and administrator, presents an opportunity for Senator Enoh to embrace a more inclusive and effective approach to sports administration in Nigeria.Knowing fully well that the Sports Minister knows nothing in sports administration.”The statement reads.
Concluding the statement, Comrade Pam warned the Sports Minister to be careful and trade gently as Mr.President has zero tolerance for corruption
“In conclusion, it is imperative for the minister to know that his present office is at mercy of Mr.President, a man with zero tolerance for corruption.Maybe, the Sports Minister has forgotten how the Tinubu’s government is handling Beta Edu’s case; coincidentally, they both hail from Cross River state.” Comrade Pam concluded his statement.
Sports
Plateau Vipers, Benue Queens Crowned Champions at HFN North Central Division One Tourney
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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