Sports

BFN Wins Praise from NSC, NOC Over Strategic Badminton Repositioning

Published

5 months ago

May 17, 2026

Cyril Ogar

The Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) has concluded its two-day strategic retreat aimed at repositioning badminton for sustainable growth, grassroots expansion, elite performance, and stronger contribution to Nigeria’s sports economy.

The retreat, held from May 13 to 14, 2026, in Abuja, brought together key stakeholders in the sports sector, including President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Habu Gumel; Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko; President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria, Francis Orbih and board members.

The retreat focused on developing a strategic framework for badminton development, covering grassroots expansion, elite athlete pathways, technical advancement, gender inclusion, competition structures, sports business opportunities, and athlete welfare.

Speaking during the retreat, NSC Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, said the initiative aligns with the Commission’s Renewed Hope Initiative Framework (RHIF), which mandates sports federations to develop measurable and sustainable strategic plans.

The NSC boss stressed that sports development must go beyond medal ambitions to include economic value creation, youth empowerment, grassroots participation, and sustainable structures.

“This is part of what we have asked all federations to do. They must assess their capacity, define their short, medium, and long-term goals, and come up with strategic plans that can guide their development programmes,” Dikko stated.

“You cannot isolate grassroots development from elite performance, technical growth, or sports business. Everything must grow together if sports is to become a strong contributor to the Nigerian economy,” he added.

Also speaking, NOC President, Engineer Habu Gumel, commended the federation’s leadership and the steady rise of badminton within and outside Nigeria. Gumel further emphasized the importance of long-term planning and institutional continuity in sustaining progress across the sport.

“Badminton is doing very well both in Nigeria and internationally, and the federation’s leadership has continued to position the sport positively so that our athletes can continue to make the country proud,” Gumel said.

“Federations must continue to build structures that will sustain progress, nurture talents, and ensure continuity. What badminton is demonstrating today reflects vision, purpose, and commitment to development,” he noted.

Earlier, BFN President, Francis Orbih, said the retreat was designed to align stakeholders behind a common vision for badminton development over the next four years and beyond.

Orbih added that the federation’s growth agenda remains holistic, with emphasis on player development, technical education, gender inclusion, administration, and financial sustainability.

“This retreat is about having strategic conversations that will give direction to the future of badminton in Nigeria. Our focus is on grassroots development, technical advancement, elite performance, and creating pathways that will consistently produce podium results,” Orbih stated.

“As we develop players, we are also developing coaches, umpires, technical officials, and administrators because every part of the system is important for sustainable growth. We also want more women involved both in playing and administration,” he explained.

On his part, Technical Director of the federation, Tunde Kazeem, described the technical department as the engine room of badminton development, highlighting plans to strengthen coaching, officiating, and player data management nationwide.

The Kwara State-born administrator said that the federation plans to intensify grassroots and female badminton development through structured age-grade competitions, school programmes, and nationwide talent identification initiatives.

“We are looking at the database of players, the number and grading of coaches, as well as technical officials because you cannot develop players without sound coaches and efficient umpires,” Kazeem said.

“We are paying more attention to female badminton while expanding grassroots tournaments across all zones with Under-12, Under-15, Under-19, and senior competitions. We are also engaging states on facilities development and preparing to host more national and continental events,” he added.

The retreat is expected to produce a detailed strategic framework that will guide the federation’s development programmes, competition calendar, talent identification system, technical growth, and international performance targets in line with Nigeria’s broader sports development agenda.

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Sports

NSC DG, Olopade Celebrates Nigeria at 66, Assures of More Progressive Sports Development Under President Tinubu

Published

14 hours ago

October 1, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, has congratulated Nigerians as the nation celebrates its 66th Independence Anniversary, describing the milestone as a reflection of Nigeria’s resilience, unity and remarkable capacity to excel on the global stage, particularly through sports.

Hon. Olopade said Nigeria at 66 is an occasion every Nigerian should be proud of, noting that despite the challenges encountered over the years, the country has continued to make significant progress and produce achievements capable of inspiring generations.

The DG said the sports sector has particular reasons to celebrate, pointing to a series of performances and milestones by Nigerian athletes and teams across the global sporting landscape.

“Today, we celebrate the resilience of our people, the strength of our unity and our belief in the promise of our great country, especially through sports.

“As we raise our flag with pride, may we remain committed to building a nation where every Nigerian has the opportunity to dream, thrive and succeed.”

Hon. Olopade said the progress being witnessed in Nigerian sports aligns with the vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and the Renewed Hope Initiative for Nigeria Sports Development (RHINSE), which he said is focused on creating a stronger and more sustainable pathway for athletes, while positioning sports as a tool for national development, youth empowerment and global recognition.

He pointed to Nigeria’s outstanding performance at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games as one of the latest examples of the country’s sporting potential. Team Nigeria returned from Glasgow with 24 medals, comprising 10 gold, seven silver and seven bronze, finishing seventh overall and as the highest-ranked African nation at the Games. The campaign also produced three world records and a number of historic milestones across para powerlifting, athletics, weightlifting, para athletics and judo.

Among the standout performances was that of Team Nigeria captain Folashade Oluwafemiayo, who won gold in para powerlifting and twice broke the world record during the competition, ultimately lifting 175kg. Goodness Nwachukwu also successfully defended her Commonwealth title in the women’s para discus and set a new world record, while Nigeria recorded historic Commonwealth gold medals through Samuel Ogazi in the men’s 400m, Ezekiel Nathaniel in the men’s 400m hurdles and Chukwuebuka Enekwechi in the men’s shot put.

“Today, Nigeria is a global force in para-sports, and athletes such as Folashade Oluwafemiayo and Goodness Nwachukwu continue to demonstrate the extraordinary talent and determination that exist within our country,” Hon. Olopade said.

He also celebrated the continued dominance of D’Tigress, Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, which in 2025 became the first nation to win five consecutive FIBA Women’s AfroBasket titles after defeating Mali 78-64 in the final in Abidjan in the last edition. The achievement extended Nigeria’s unbeaten run in the competition to 29 games and secured qualification for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup pathway.

On the global athletics scene, Hon. Olopade highlighted the continued excellence of Tobi Amusan and the emergence of a new generation of Nigerian sprinters. Amusan won silver in the women’s 100m hurdles at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest in September 2026, clocking 12.34 seconds in the final, while Kayinsola Ajayi added another significant milestone by winning Commonwealth bronze in the men’s 100m and helping Nigeria to bronze in the men’s 4x100m relay in Glasgow.

Nigeria’s football heritage, Hon. Olopade noted, remains another major source of national pride. The country holds the record for the most FIFA U-17 World Cup titles, with five championships won by the Golden Eaglets in 1985, 1993, 2007, 2013 and 2015.

He also pointed to the country’s growing influence in emerging sports, including flag football. Nigeria made history by winning both the men’s and women’s titles at the inaugural IFAF Africa Flag Football Championship in Cairo in 2025, earning qualification for the 2026 IFAF Flag Football World Championships ahead of the sport’s Olympic debut at Los Angeles 2028.

“These achievements across athletics, para-sports, basketball, football, weightlifting, flag football and other sports remind us that Nigeria possesses immense sporting talent,” the DG said.

“From our champions who continue to break world records to our young athletes who are announcing themselves on the international stage, the Nigerian flag continues to fly with pride around the world. This is why the development of sports must remain a national priority. Our responsibility is not only to celebrate champions after they emerge, but to build the systems, facilities, competitions and opportunities that allow more young Nigerians to become champions.”

“As we celebrate 66 years of our independence, we celebrate Nigeria’s past, but we must also look confidently toward the future. Our athletes have shown us what is possible when talent meets opportunity, preparation and support. The task before us is to ensure that more Nigerians have that opportunity,” the DG added.

“On behalf of the National Sports Commission, I wish all Nigerians a happy 66th Independence Anniversary. May our great nation continue to grow in strength, unity, prosperity and sporting excellence,” Hon. Olopade concluded.

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