Sports
House of Reps Revives Grassroots Sports with Distribution of Kits and Sportswear to All 360 Federal Constituencies
By Joel Ajayi
In a renewed effort to revive grassroots sports and promote youth engagement across Nigeria, the House of Representatives has flagged off the distribution of sporting equipment to members of its sports Committee, targeting all 360 federal constituencies.
The initiative, launched on Wednesday in Abuja, is a collaboration between the House Committee on Sports and the National Sports Commission. It aims to support talent discovery and youth participation through the provision of essential sports kits including football boots, jerseys, and training gear.
Speaking at the event, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, urged lawmakers to redirect their constituency funds towards sports development at the grassroots level, instead of projects that are often left uncompleted.
“It is unacceptable that a country of over 230 million people returns from global competitions without medals, while much smaller nations succeed,” Abbas lamented. “To reclaim our sporting greatness, we must return to grassroots and developmental sports.”
He criticized the proliferation of abandoned skill acquisition centres and called on legislators to invest instead in community-level sports infrastructure and programmes, which he described as powerful tools for youth empowerment.
Commending the House Committee on Sports for its proactive efforts, the Speaker hailed the distribution exercise as unprecedented. “This is the first time I am seeing the Sports Committee match expectations in such a short period. Their performance is commendable and should serve as a model for other committees.”
In his remarks, Chairman of the Sports Committee, Hon. Kabir Amadu (Mai Palace), reaffirmed the House’s resolve to reinvigorate grassroots sports. He noted that each federal constituency will benefit from the distribution, with members expected to take the materials back to their communities.
“This gesture goes beyond symbolism. It is a practical step toward reviving youth engagement and sporting talent across Nigeria,” Amadu said. “We can’t keep lamenting the decline of grassroots sports without taking action.”
He also revealed that the next phase of the project would focus on constructing mini-stadiums across the country to complement the kits and provide long-term infrastructure for sports development.
Sports
29 Days To AACT 2026: IBB Club Renewal Heralds Nigeria’s African Golf Showcase
Joel Ajayi
With 29 days to the 2026 All Africa Challenge Trophy (AACT), Nigeria is stepping up preparations to host the continental women’s team golf championship, with the extensive rehabilitation of the IBB International Golf and Country Club in Abuja providing a major boost to the country’s readiness.
In a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja Director of Communication AACT 2026, Kayode Adeniyi said the Club’s Board of Trustees has assured that the facility will be fully prepared to welcome golfers, officials and delegates from across Africa when the championship tees off on November 2.
Chairperson of the Board of Trustees, Hon. Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, CFR, gave the assurance after inspecting ongoing rehabilitation works at the Club, expressing satisfaction with the progress recorded so far.
The IBB International Golf and Country Club has undergone extensive rehabilitation following its closure to regular golfing activities for more than a year. The intervention has focused on the golf course, selected holes, the clubhouse and other key facilities required to provide a befitting venue for the continental championship.
Justice Dongban-Mensem expressed confidence that the rehabilitation programme would be completed in time for the AACT, further reassuring stakeholders that the Club would be ready to host Africa’s leading female golfers.
Chairman of the Club’s Interim Management Committee, Peter Deshi, also expressed optimism over the progress of work, with regular golfing activities expected to resume ahead of the championship.
For the Ladies Golf Association of Nigeria (LGAN), the readiness of the host venue remains a critical component of the country’s preparations.
President of the Association, Dr. Lami Ahmed, has similarly expressed confidence in Nigeria’s preparations to stage a successful championship.
The 2026 AACT is scheduled to take place from November 2 to 7 at the IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja.
With the countdown now entering its final month, the rehabilitation of the Club is sending a strong message about Nigeria’s determination to deliver a successful championship and provide a worthy stage for Africa’s finest female golfers.
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