Sports

NSC DG, Olopade Visits Team Nigeria in Camp Ahead of All-African Senior Badminton Championship

Published

10 months ago

February 5, 2025

…Says NSC is determined to encourage all Sports Federations
Joel Ajayi

The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, has revealed that the Commission’s leadership is determined to support and encourage all sports federations to excel.

The 2025 edition of the All-African Senior Badminton Championship is set to take place from February 10th to 16th in Douala, Cameroon. Team Nigeria, consisting of 10 players—5 males and 5 females—will compete in the Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles, Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles, and Mixed Doubles categories. The men’s team includes Nigeria’s number one player, Anuoluwapo Opeyori.

Olopade visited the team’s camp in Abuja on Wednesday to encourage them and bid the Nigerian Badminton Team farewell ahead of their participation in the championship. He extended a goodwill message from the NSC Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, assuring the team of the Commission’s support and encouraging them to make the country proud.

He expressed confidence in the team, urging them to perform at their best. “My message was very clear. I conveyed the message from the chairman of the sports commission, Malam Shehu Dikko, and it was a clear one: we are determined to continue supporting all sports,” Olopade said.

“Moreover, when you look at the development and growth of Nigerian badminton, it is our responsibility, as leaders of the sports commission, to ensure that these athletes are encouraged to keep up the good work they have been doing for the country. They are the defending champions, and I’m not just here to encourage them. I have come to show our love, our support, and to ensure they are ready. They are well taken care of, and the confidence for them to excel is there. It’s all up to them to do well.”

In his remarks, the President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria, Francis Orbi, stated that the Nigerian team is ready for the championships and that all the players understand the importance of the tournament.

“I’m confident that they will perform very well. We have a lot of potential, and the Director General’s visit to encourage the players will further boost their courage and determination. We are grateful for that.”

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s badminton star, Anuoluwapo Opeyori, is aiming for a consecutive title at the 2025 All-African Senior Badminton Championship in Douala, Cameroon. Opeyori won the singles event last year and is now targeting another title in Cameroon.

At the previous edition of the tournament in Cairo, Nigeria won one gold, two silver, and four bronze medals.

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Sports

Onikeku celebrates Customs’ dominant league win, targets African supremacy

Published

2 days ago

December 11, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

Head of Sports, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Samuel Onikeku, has applauded the outstanding performance of the Nigeria Customs Service Women’s Volleyball Team after securing the 2025 CGC Volleyball Premier League title with three matches to spare.

Speaking in Abuja on Thursday, Onikeku reflected on the team’s impressive journey this season, noting that deliberate restructuring and the infusion of younger talents played a pivotal role in their success.

“We opened camp to try to change our team. We brought in younger players, and this is the first time that with three matches to go, we’ve already won the league.

“Last season, the women’s team won the CGC Volleyball League on the last day.

“I’m very proud of the team, the coordinators, the coaches, the team managers, and the players. It’s been a long way coming—going through the first phase unbeaten in 10 matches, and now achieving this milestone. It means a lot, especially coming from our victory in Ghana.

Onikeku stressed that despite the early triumph, the team is focused on bigger ambitions as they continue to build a squad capable of excelling beyond the domestic and regional levels.

“As we have always said, we want to do well, and we are still in the process of fortifying our team. We don’t want to be just national champions or regional champions. We believe Nigeria should be able to stand and face the North Africans,” he stated.

He added that the team’s long-term development strategy will begin to show clearer results next year when preparations intensify for major continental competitions.

With the league crown already secured, the Nigeria Customs team is now setting its sights on consolidating its dominance and mounting a strong challenge on the African stage.

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