Sports

AFSA, OSMA Partner to Advance Sports Development in Abuja and Beyond

Published

6 months ago

November 13, 2025

Cyril Ogar

The All Federal Capital Territory Sports Association (AFSA) and the Organisation of Military Sports in Africa (OSMA) have entered into a strategic partnership aimed at advancing sports development in Abuja and across the African continent.

The President of AFSA, H.R.M. Sir Eze Ifeanyi, led a delegation on a courtesy visit to the OSMA headquarters, where they were received by Major General Maikano Abdullah, President of OSMA.
During the visit, AFSA presented medals and an award to Major General Abdullah and his team in recognition of their outstanding contributions to sports development.

In his remarks, Sir Eze Ifeanyi commended OSMA for its dedication to promoting sports excellence and collaboration. He reaffirmed AFSA’s commitment to discovering and nurturing young sporting talents across the country.

“Talented players across Abuja and Nigeria will be our focused drive in AFSA,” he stated.

Mr. Agbor Clinton, Director General of AFSA, announced that the association will be officially launched in February 2026, describing the event as a milestone that will usher in a new era for sports growth and innovation in the Federal Capital Territory.

Also present at the meeting was Sportfanzone International, an organization dedicated to fan engagement and sports development. The body pledged to collaborate with both OSMA and AFSA to strengthen grassroots sports and promote community participation.

In response, Major General Abdullah welcomed the partnership and reaffirmed OSMA’s readiness to work closely with AFSA and Sportfanzone International.

“We are committed to working closely with AFSA and Sportfanzone International to drive sports development in Abuja and beyond,” he said.

The new alliance is expected to foster talent identification, capacity building, and sustainable sports development initiatives in Abuja and across Africa.

Share on Facebook

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.

Share on Facebook