Sports
Orbih Sparks Fresh Hope with Transformational Plan for Nigerian Badminton
Joel Ajayi
A fresh era appears to be emerging for Nigerian badminton as President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), Francis Orbih, unveiled an ambitious long-term development plan centred on grassroots expansion, coaches’ training, and umpire advancement.
Orbih announced the vision on Wednesday during the opening ceremony of the federation’s two-day retreat at ANOCA House in Abuja, where board members, technical experts, and stakeholders gathered to map out a fresh direction for the sport with the theme: “Repositioning Badminton For Sustainable Growth.”
He said the federation was determined to build a sustainable structure capable of delivering measurable results within the next two to three years.
“In the next two to three years, Nigerians will begin to see the result of what we are doing. When you fail to plan, you plan to fail,” Orbih said.
According to him, the retreat was organised to ensure the federation operates with a clear roadmap rather than short-term decisions.
Orbih stressed that the BFN would pursue intentional goals throughout its tenure instead of allowing another four-year cycle to pass without impact.
“We are not just going to vote, announce results and allow four years to pass by. We want to be deliberate about what we want to achieve,” he stated.
He identified grassroots expansion as the foundation of the federation’s new agenda, revealing plans to take badminton into schools and local communities across the country.
“Grassroots and schools are very important to us, and we are going there. We also want to develop our coaches and umpires because they are critical to the future of the game,” he added.
Orbih also pointed to the federation’s growing international recognition, recalling that a Nigerian umpire officiated at the World Junior Championships in India last year — a first for the country.
He said the next target was to secure more international opportunities for Nigerian technical officials and administrators within African and global badminton bodies.
“We want more Nigerians to lead African badminton institutions and contribute globally when opportunities come. That preparation must start now,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, said Nigerian sports was entering a new era driven by strategic planning, data, and performance-based targets.
Dikko explained that sports federations were now expected to submit clear development plans to the commission, replacing the old system of arbitrary expectations.
He disclosed that based on projections from federations, Nigeria is targeting between 18 and 22 gold medals at the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
Dikko also praised the leadership of the Badminton Federation, describing the sport as one of Nigeria’s medal prospects, while citing the success of para-badminton star Eniola Bolaji as evidence of what strategic investment can achieve.
Sports
11 Days to AACT 2026: Munir Tijjani Assures of Nigeria’s Readiness, Government Support
Joel Ajayi
With 11 days to the 2026 All Africa Challenge Trophy (AACT), the championship consultant, Munir Tijjani, has expressed confidence in Nigeria’s preparedness to host the continental women’s golf championship, citing the support of government agencies and key stakeholders.
Tijjani said preparations were progressing with the cooperation of relevant institutions and stakeholders, expressing optimism that Nigeria would deliver a successful championship that showcases the country’s organisational capacity and hospitality to participating African nations.
He noted that the support received from government agencies and other partners had been important to the preparations, helping to strengthen coordination and the arrangements required to welcome teams from across the continent.
The AACT consultant also assured participating countries and golfers that the IBB International Golf & Country Club in Abuja would be open for the championship, expressing confidence in the venue’s readiness to host the competition.
The assurance comes as preparations enter their final phase ahead of the tournament, which will bring together women golfers representing their countries in a contest for continental honours.
For Nigeria, hosting the championship offers an opportunity to promote women’s golf, strengthen sporting relationships across Africa and showcase the country as a destination for international sporting events.
Nigeria will host the All Africa Challenge Trophy for the third time, following the 1996 edition at Ikoyi Club 1938 in Lagos and the 2010 championship at the IBB International Golf & Country Club in Abuja.
The 2026 tournament is scheduled for November 2 to 7 at the Abuja golf course, with about 30 African countries expected to participate.
Under the slogan “Uniting Africa through the greens,” the championship aims to bring African nations together through women’s golf while creating opportunities for cultural exchange, tourism and broader continental cooperation.
With 11 days remaining, the Local Organising Committee and its partners are intensifying final preparations to ensure Nigeria welcomes Africa for a memorable championship.
11 DAYS TO GO.
AACT 2026: UNITING AFRICA THROUGH THE GREENS.
AFRICA IS COMING TO ABUJA.
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