Sports
Excitement and Fun as 6th Edition of OSMO Games Kicks Off in Style
Joel Ajayi
The 2025 edition of the One Service, One Medal Games (OSMO) officially kicked off with vibrant energy, as military and paramilitary athletes from across the country gathered for Nigeria’s premier inter-agency sports festival.
Held annually, the Games have become a symbol of unity, strength, and healthy competition among the nation’s Armed Forces and paramilitary services.
Excitement is already building as fans eagerly await the unveiling of athletes who will represent their respective agencies. A highlight of the opening and closing ceremonies will be the Passing Parade, where participants don uniquely styled outfits representing their agencies with pride.
Beyond the thrill of competition, the OSMO Games aim to promote camaraderie, teamwork, and excellence in service through sportsmanship.
This year’s edition runs from April 24th at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium and various other key venues across the Federal Capital Territory, including:
Package A and B of the National Stadium, Jabi Lake. Old Parade Ground. Nigeria Air Force Base and FIFA Goal Project facility.
Fifteen sports have been scheduled for this year’s Games: Athletics, Badminton, Beach Volleyball, Boxing, Football, Golf, Handball, Karate, Shooting, Squash, Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, and Tug of War.
As the action unfolds, all eyes will be on the athletes to see who will rise to the challenge and bring glory to their agencies in this celebration of discipline, unity, and sporting excellence
Sports
Badminton Federation of Nigeria Targets Grassroots Growth, Coaches’ Capacity Building
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.
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