Sports
FG inaugurates 22-Member Planining Commmittee For Commonwealth Games King’s Baton Relay Reception
Joel Ajayi
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to the growth and development of sports in the country with the inauguration of a 22-member planning committee tasked with preparing and coordinating the modalities for receiving the Commonwealth Games King’s Baton in Nigeria.
The initiative comes as part of the preparations ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
The event, formerly known as the Queen’s Baton Relay, is scheduled to take place in Nigeria from June 15 to 18, 2025.
The inauguration ceremony was presided over by the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, at the Media Centre of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.
In his address, Mallam Dikko emphasized the symbolic significance of the King’s Baton Relay, likening it to the Olympic Torch Relay.
He noted that the Baton would travel across all 74 Commonwealth nations, promoting unity, friendship, and enthusiasm in the lead-up to the Games.
The committee has been mandated to ensure the successful and memorable hosting of the Baton Relay in Nigeria, incorporating a variety of cultural activities to showcase the nation’s rich and diverse heritage. This represents a unique opportunity for Nigeria to present its cultural identity and sporting excellence to the global community.
His Majesty King Charles III officially launched the inaugural Commonwealth Sports King’s Baton Relay at Buckingham Palace on Commonwealth Day, Monday, March 10, 2025.
The relay serves as a rallying call for all Commonwealth nations to unite in friendly competition and uphold the spirit of sportsmanship.
Speaking at the event, the President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Engr. Habu Gumel, outlined an ambitious vision for Nigerian sports.
He declared that Nigeria aspires to become the leading sporting nation in Africa and rank among the top four nations in the Commonwealth.
He stressed that with strong leadership, unwavering dedication, and collective effort, the goal is achievable.
Gumel encouraged members of the planning committee to execute their responsibilities with diligence and commitment. “Success does not come by chance. It demands perseverance, discipline, and unity of purpose,” he said.
In her acceptance remarks, Dr. (Mrs.) Kehinde Ajayi expressed deep appreciation for the opportunity to serve on the committee.
She acknowledged the importance of teamwork, stating that with the support of the Chairman and fellow members, the committee is committed to delivering impactful results.
Meanwhile, the Acting Director General of the National Sports Commission, Mr. Mustapha Ladan, in his vote of thanks, expressed gratitude to the Chairman for appointing a team of professionals with diverse backgrounds and extensive experience in sports development.
He emphasized that the caliber of the committee members reflects the Commission’s serious intent and dedication to sporting excellence.
The 22-member planning committee is expected to bring innovative ideas and broad expertise to ensure the successful hosting of the King’s Baton Relay—an event that marks a key milestone on Nigeria’s journey to the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
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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