Sports

NJF Wins IGP Support for 2026 Championships After Strategic Meeting

Published

2 days ago

May 13, 2026

Joel Ajayi

The Nigeria Judo Federation [NJF] has secured the commitment of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Tunji Disu, to partner with the federation in advancing judo across Nigeria, following a courtesy visit on Wednesday, 6th May 2026.

The delegation, led by NJF President Dr. Musa Oshodi, met the IGP at the IGP Conference Hall, Force Headquarters, Abuja. The visit focused on deepening collaboration between the federation and the Nigeria Police Force, which has historically produced several of the country’s top judokas.

Briefing journalists on Wednesday on the outcome of the visit, Dr. Oshodi described the engagement as “cordial, productive, and inspiring,” noting that the IGP’s background as a former judo athlete made the discussions more meaningful.

“We presented three key requests to the IGP,” Dr. Oshodi said. “First, we sought his sponsorship and support for the 2026 IGP Judo Championships. Second, we proposed closer collaboration with the Nigerian Police to intensify their kinetic defense base through judo training. Third, we appealed to him to use his good office to attract individual and corporate sponsors to the federation.”

Responding, IGP Disu, who holds a 4th Dan black belt and now serves as Life Patron of the NJF, assured the delegation of his readiness to support the federation’s goals.

“IGP Disu told us unequivocally that he is ready to partner with the federation’s aspirations. He understands the values of discipline, resilience, and respect that judo instills, and he wants to see those values spread further within the Force and beyond,” Dr. Oshodi quoted the IGP as saying.

The visit also served as an opportunity to formally inform the IGP of his recent upgrade from 3rd Dan to 4th Dan and his promotion from Patron to Life Patron of the Nigeria Judo Federation.

“This recognition is our way of honouring his contributions and acknowledging his place in the judo family. His acceptance and words of encouragement have energized us to work harder for the growth of the sport,” Dr. Oshodi added.

The NJF president expressed optimism that the partnership would yield tangible results ahead of the 2026 IGP Judo Championships and strengthen the role of judo in national security training.

“We are confident that with the IGP’s support, judo will continue to grow as both a competitive sport and a tool for building discipline and tactical capacity in our security agencies,” he said.

The courtesy visit marks a renewed push by the NJF to strengthen ties with key stakeholders and expand the reach of judo nationwide.

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Sports

Badminton Federation of Nigeria Targets Grassroots Growth, Coaches’ Capacity Building

Published

14 hours ago

May 14, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), Francis Orbih, says the federation has launched an ambitious reform programme anchored on structured planning, grassroots development, and long-term athlete progression across all levels of the sport.

Speaking on Thursday in Abuja, after two-day retreat at ANOCA building where board members, technical experts, and stakeholders gathered under the theme: Repositioning Badminton for Sustainable Growth’ gathered to chart a way forward for the Game.

Orbih said the sessions were designed to align stakeholders on a unified four-year strategic roadmap focused on improving governance, strengthening performance systems, and expanding participation nationwide.

He noted that key priorities discussed include technical development, coaching education, athlete welfare, and a more coordinated grassroots structure through school-based programmes.

According to him, the federation has approved the creation of 11 committees to drive implementation of its reforms, with emphasis on accountability, coordination, and measurable performance outcomes.

“We wanted a collective approach where decisions are jointly owned and implemented, with clear and measurable results.

‘’A major pillar of the plan is grassroots badminton development, particularly in schools.’’

He explained that while outreach programmes have existed, the federation is now shifting toward a more structured and data-driven approach with wider national coverage.

Orbih disclosed that the federation currently reaches an average of 25 to 30 schools per zonal outreach programme, but plans are underway to expand coverage across more states and increase consistency of engagement.

He also highlighted gaps in coaching capacity, noting that the number of certified coaches in Nigeria remains relatively low compared to other countries. The federation, he said, will intensify coaching education and certification programmes to close the gap and improve technical standards.

“We have over 100 coaches in Nigeria, but many are not actively engaged in continuous training. We want to strengthen that system and raise the standard,” he added.

The BFN president further confirmed the introduction of structured age-grade development pathways, covering under-12, under-15, under-19, and other youth categories to ensure seamless progression from grassroots to elite level.

President added that, federation plans to organise more age-group tournaments to sustain player development and improve competitive exposure.

Speaking also, the Technical Director of the federation, Tunde Kashim, also emphasised that the technical department remains central to the reform agenda, describing it as the “engine room” of badminton development in the country.

He said the department is reviewing player databases, coaching structures, and competition pathways to ensure a stronger performance system.

Kashim added that efforts will be made to upgrade coaching levels across the country, including progression through certification tiers, while also addressing the declining number of active coaches in the system.

He further revealed plans to expand youth competitions across multiple age categories, including under-12, under-15, under-16, and under-19 levels, aimed at strengthening the talent pipeline from schools to elite competition.

According to him, the federation is also working with state stakeholders to improve facilities and increase participation, while preparing for upcoming national and continental engagements.

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