Sports

Sunday Dare Joins President Tinubu to Flag Off Torch of Unity Movement for NSF

Published

2 years ago

March 25, 2025

Joel Ajayi

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Chief Sunday Dare (CON, FNIS), joined President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday in Abuja to flag off the Torch of Unity Movement for the 22nd National Sports Festival (NSF).

Themed “Gateway Games,” the festival will take place in Ogun State from May 16 to May 30.
President Tinubu described sports as a unifying force and a catalyst for youth engagement, national cohesion, and economic growth. He urged both the public and private sectors to contribute actively to sports development in Nigeria, particularly in infrastructure expansion, talent identification, athlete nurturing, and event sponsorship.

He emphasized that collaboration is key to advancing Nigeria’s sporting potential and maintaining its dominance on the global stage.

The president highlighted the Torch of Unity as a symbol of peace, strength, and solidarity. As part of the festival’s tradition, the torch will travel through all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory before the games commence.

“Since its inception in 1973, the National Sports Festival has served as a vital platform for interaction and integration among our young sportsmen and women,” President Tinubu stated.“This festival is more than a showcase of athletic prowess; it is a celebration of unity, strength, and resilience, reaffirming our collective commitment to nation-building through sports.”

The president also honored Nigerian sporting legends, recognizing Olympic medalist Falilat Ogunkoya as the National Torch Bearer. He praised her dedication to sports excellence and national unity.

Additionally, President Tinubu extended his best wishes to the Super Eagles ahead of their FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifying match against Zimbabwe Warriors in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, expressing confidence in their success.

Governor Dapo Abiodun reaffirmed that Ogun State is fully prepared to host a world-class event, welcoming over 10,000 athletes and setting new records. He announced that elite Nigerian athletes such as Anthony Joshua and Tobi Amusan would grace the occasion, reinforcing Nigeria’s status as a global sporting powerhouse.
Quoting Nelson Mandela, Governor Abiodun emphasize.

“Sports can change the world. They can inspire and unite people in a way that little else can.”

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Sports

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

Published

7 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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