Sports
Central Bank of Nigeria’s Historic Role in Sports Sponsorship and the Urgency of Continuing Corporate Social Responsibility Initiatives
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has stood as one of the most enduring pillars of governance since its establishment in March 1958. Beyond its fiscal responsibilities, the CBN is expected to engage in corporate social responsibility (CSR) within its host community. Over time, the CBN has utilized various means to disseminate information and fulfill its CSR obligations, with sports emerging as a particularly effective tool due to its ability to resonate with diverse segments of society.
Through its sponsorship of sporting events, the CBN has successfully connected with the populace while promoting its CSR initiatives. Sporting events such as tennis, golf, and football have served as platforms for not only disseminating information but also creating opportunities for aspiring athletes. The appeal and widespread viewership of these sports have enabled the CBN to reach a broad audience, thereby fostering community engagement and social impact.
For instance, the CBN-sponsored tennis events have propelled talents like Nduka Odizor to international acclaim, with significant achievements in the ATP rankings. Similarly, numerous young athletes have leveraged the platform provided by CBN-sponsored tournaments to secure scholarships abroad, paving the way for their professional careers and contributing to the country’s sporting legacy.
Despite these successes, recent developments indicate a shift in the CBN’s approach to sports sponsorship. The foot dragging on sponsorship of annual golf tournaments, football competitions, and the renowned CBN tennis open has raised concerns among stakeholders. While change in leadership may have prompted this delay , the potential impact on youth development and community engagement cannot be overlooked.
In a time when youth empowerment and engagement are paramount, the delay in response to issues pertaining to youth-oriented sports programs seems counterproductive. The significant investments made by the government in youth-centric initiatives underscore the importance of sustained support for sports development. Furthermore, aligning with sports initiatives not only fosters community goodwill but also promotes national unity and identity.
As the country navigates through challenging times, it is imperative for government institutions like the CBN to prioritize initiatives that directly benefit the youth and foster social cohesion. Embracing and investing in sports programs can serve as a catalyst for positive change, reinforcing the government’s commitment to youth empowerment and national development.
Amid the increasing withdrawal of private companies from Nigeria and the challenges in securing sponsorship from the private sector for sports, it would be a significant misstep. It could also tarnish the reputation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government if the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) were to withdraw its long-standing sponsorship of sporting events.
For three to four decades, the CBN has been a key sponsor of these events, and the omen around the delay in response to issues partaining to sports would have far-reaching implications.
Therefore, maintaining support for sports initiatives is not only prudent but essential for realizing the nation’s collective aspirations.
Sports
Plateau Vipers, Benue Queens Crowned Champions at HFN North Central Division One Tourney
Joel Ajayi
The President of the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN), Jibril Seidu, has said the federation will continue to intensify its grassroots talent development drive through zonal competitions across the country.
Seidu stated this on Saturday in Abuja at the finals of the 2026 North Central Division One Handball Championship, where Plateau Vipers defeated Suleja Shooters 29-24 to emerge champions in the men’s category.
In the women’s final, Benue Queens of Makurdi defeated City Queens of Suleja to claim the title.
The eight-day tournament featured teams from across the North Central Zone, with Plateau Vipers of Jos, Confluence Stars of Lokoja, Unity Boys of Abuja, Suleja Shooters and Nasarawa Ambassadors of Lafia competing in the men’s category.
In the women’s category, Nuela Handball Academy of Ilorin, Inikpi Babes of Idah, Benue Queens of Makurdi and City Queens of Suleja competed for honours.
At the end of the competition, four teams — two male and two female — emerged as the North Central Zone’s representatives for the national Division One league.
According to Seidu, the tournament was organised as part of the federation’s deliberate strategy to take handball development back to the regions and discover talents that might otherwise remain unnoticed.
He said the HFN board, inaugurated on October 25, 2025, resolved that grassroots development was essential to creating a sustainable pipeline of players for national and international competitions.
“All the teams you have seen here are from the North Central Zone of the country, and every state is represented with an academy or state team,” he said.
Seidu explained that the new approach marked a departure from the previous system, where talent identification was largely centred on the federation’s major league competitions.
He said taking competitions to the regions would provide young players with greater opportunities to showcase their abilities while strengthening the foundation of handball across the country.
The HFN president also linked the grassroots initiative to Nigeria’s recent achievements in international handball, stressing the need to develop younger players who can eventually replace members of the current national teams.
He noted that Nigeria had qualified for the 2027 Men’s Junior Handball World Championship in North Macedonia, describing the achievement as evidence of the potential within the country’s handball system.
“How do we replace these players with upcoming players? This is the avenue for us to get players,” he said.
Seidu added that the federation was determined to make handball more visible and accessible, describing it as one of Nigeria’s major sporting disciplines with significant potential for growth.
The North Central tournament is part of a wider zonal programme designed to decentralise handball development across Nigeria.
According to the federation, similar competitions are being organised across other zones, including the South East, North East, North West and South South, with qualifiers from each zone expected to converge at a designated venue for the next stage of the competition.
The federation also appealed for greater support from sponsors, stakeholders and state associations to sustain its grassroots development programme.
It expressed appreciation to the participating states, academies, team sponsors and other stakeholders for their support and commitment to the growth of handball in Nigeria.
The federation said the initiative would provide a platform for discovering the next generation of Nigerian handball stars while expanding the sport’s reach beyond its traditional centres.
While Speaking the elated coach of Benue Queen Godwin Tondo has promised a stronger and more tactical performance after guiding the team to victory at the 2026 North Central Division One Handball Championship in Abuja.
He attributed the success to the team’s long-term youth development programme, noting that the squad was built through a deliberate process of identifying and nurturing young talents.
According to him, the programme began with the selection of 92 girls from secondary schools, who were subsequently trained and developed over a four-year period.
He said the team’s success was a product of sustained hard work and commitment despite the challenges encountered during preparations for the tournament.
“I feel very pleased being a champion today. The road to this stage was very, very hard, but I am very happy that we have got the result from all the toughness of the game,” he said.
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