Sports
Cross River State Government’s Zealousness to Develope Skate-A-thon Sports with Shehu Dikko of NSC
Daniel Damola
The Governors of Cross River, Enugu, Benue, Plateau, and Ekiti States have been on the front line news since their assumption of duty to bring succor in sporting areas that attract youth interest and as well address their restivness. Seeing the commitments of these governors to sports, one will say that they want to sincerely creat an opportunity for youths in their states to discover other areas of potential engagements in carrier progression and by associating with their peer groups, see natural environmental tepographys attractive for sporting events.
Similarly to Edo, Delta, Benue, Ekiti and River States that kits their athletes during Youth Games and reward those that win laurels for them, these Governors see sports as an area where youths energies can be channeled with their eyes focused in realistic dreams of not only having a better future but be self employed. Sports events convincinly bring out the best natural talents whose discovery start from school Inter House Sports and natured from its different categories up to the advance level of utilisation to both the athelete and the government. Natural talent in sports does not require much western education for one to excel but proper naturing that could be credited.
Over 40 sporting federations are under
the supervision of Alhaji Shehu Dikko, Chairman National Sports
Commission, but the Governor of Cross River State, His Excellency, Sen. Prince Bassey Otu sees the relevant need to expose Skating Sport which is fast developing in African continent to the general public. Governor Bassey Otu seems to believe that there is ability in every trial with determination thus his desire to equate Skating sport to other feild and track events and possibly, make it an Olympic sport that will be enviable. Hence he decided to promote and sponsor Skating. However, the origin of skating sports is from the Finland four thousand years ago, where it has developed over the century. Its main discovery was primarily to develop and save energy in harsh
winter conditions, thus the reason its mainly
compited during the winter season. The sport is such that sets of blades attached to shoes are used for gliding on ice or other surfaces.
Nigerians are globally known to be creative and discover new things like the Europeans. Curling is not an African sport but l, Daniel Damola the President of Nigeria Curling Federation saw the need to challenge whites in their game and make my country to instead of say “we can not do it, to believe that we can try it”. History has it now that Nigeria is the only African country that is a memember of World Curling Federation and we participated in Youth Winter Olympics held last year February 2024th in South Korea.
The former Minister of the default Ministry of Sports Development Sen. John Owan Enoh, President of the NOC Engr. Habu Gumel, staff of the default ministry and their press officer Felly Mammah N. Witnessed the tournament. Nigeria has no winter but it is presently registered as a Member of Winter Sports in the World body with over 500 curlers. Meanwhile, the sports value is highly commendable as it has guiding rules that says; skaters must obey the rink guards instructions, immediately allow the ice while the ice groomer is in operation, No horseplay, No speed skating, No pushing or shoving, No food or drink on the ice at any time.
In line with the desire of the Chairman of the Sports Commission to increase the GDP of the country’s economy with grassroot sporting programmes, the Governor of Cross River State has the same dream to provide livelihood to youths of this country using the tremendous economic potentials of skating to support the country’s GDP. Skating is a relevant competitive game that harnesses the talent of young athletes and it comprises teamwork with resilience.
His Excellency Sen. Otu wishes to organise a SKATE-A -ATHON major event in calabar from 17th to 19 March, this year that will create a platform for over 2000 Local and International
Skaters. Its avantage will create an employment opportunities for mass youths from the grassroot and event managers. Calabar the capital of Cross River State with its tepography that has natural beauty and serenic landscape will further place the county on International sporting map that will hence attract spectators from various countries.
The conducive atmosphere of Calabar, will not withstanding, provide unique opportunity to host international sporting events that will further enhance tourism but it will as well, encourage partnership with international agencies dedicated to foster sports and community development.
The forth coming tournament will offer unique opportunity that will engage local youths in positive and inclusive environment which can counter security threats. The event also, promotes physical activities, provides avenue for self-expression, bring together youth from different backgrounds and thus mitigate feelings of alienation that often contribute to insecurity. Cross River State government should be commended for adopting a rare sport that is domineering in the western world and exposing it to emerge as sports hub of Africa. Governor Otu’s vision for enhancing youths engagement through sports and recreation has catalyzed the success of the event slated to hold next month thereby, demonstrating a holistic approach to community development.
Both the Chairman of the Sports Commission Shehu Dikko, and the Government of Cross River state have unanimously agreed that it is possible when passionate individuals unite for an achievable cause. Partnership exemplifies how synergized efforts can yield positive outcomes not just for the sports community but for society at large. Meanwhile, the Nigeria online Skating Federation looks forward to hosting ten local events and six international events this year.
Daniel Damola
Chairman – inline Skating Federation.
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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