Sports

FCT FA Chairman Mouktar Turbaned As Abegyi Bwaya in FCT

Published

1 year ago

May 26, 2025

Joel Ajayi
Philanthropist, Sports Icon and Chairman, Federal Capital Territory Football Association, Alhaji Adam Mouktar Mohammed has been conferred and turbaned with a Chieftaincy Title, “Abegyi Bwaya” by His Royal Highness Dr. Ibrahim Yaro (JP), the 17th Sa-Bwaya, Esu Bwari and Chairman Council of Traditional Rulers Bwari Area Council, FCT.

In a letter Signed by the Head Media Committee FCT FA Uche Nwudoh Hillary on Monday in Abuja.

In a colourful ceremony held at the historic palace of the Royal Father, His Royal Highness Dr. Ibrahim Yaro (JP), the 17th Sa-Bwaya, Esu Bwari and Chairman Council of Traditional Rulers Bwari Area Council, FCT. he described the FCT FA Chairman, Mouktar, as a worthy son who has helped place the chiefdom on the global map with his giant strides in youth and sports development in Nigeria and particularly the FCT.

The revered Traditional Ruler, stated that, the title is in recognition of his good service record and hardwork in development and progress of Bwari Chiefdom and the FCT in general.

The title, “Abegyi Bwaya”, according to His Royal Highness Dr. Ibrahim Yaro (JP), the 17th Sa-Bwaya, Esu Bwari and Chairman Council of Traditional Rulers Bwari Area Council, FCT, means the Progress of Bwari.

The title, is no doubt a refection of the positive impact and immense contributions of Alhaji Adam Mouktar Mohammed, towards the development of youths in Bwari, the FCT and Nigeria in general. He has indeed raised the bar for his contemporaries to follow.

His consistent leadership prowess and feats achieved in the Sports sector is worthy of mentioning and emulation, and has particularly inspired the youths to be diligent, resilient, and persevering as they strive to achieve their dreams and aspirations.

Mouktar said: I feel very honoured been conferred with this prestigious title. This is a huge motivation for me. This title is given to the most important people in the society. I didn’t see this coming as I have always seen myself as a tool in the Hands of Allah. I am passionate about society and human development especially in the area of job creation, skills acquisition, youth empowerment and development, among other things.

“As I look forward to achieving more with the support of all, let me humbly thank the Esu Bwari and the entire good people of the chiefdom for this great honour. I must also appreciate my family for their homely support, the FCT FA Family, my board members past and present, friends, media, sports loving people of the FCT and Nigerians”.

The event attracted dignitaries from all works of life, sports administrators, business community, friends and families, well wishers, media, amongst others.

It will be recalled that, that His Royal Highness, the 17th Sa-Bwaya, Esu Bwari, on behalf of Bwari Traditional Council Kings Makers had earlier written to notify Alhaji Adam Mouktar Mohammed the FCT FA Chairman, on his conferment of Traditional title as ABEGYI BWAYA (Progress of Bwari), Bwari chiefdom, FCT Abuja with effect from 1st January, 2025.

The letter noted that, the Traditional Title is in recognition of his good service record and hard work towards the development and progress of Bwari Chiefdom and FCT in general.

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Sports

Plateau Vipers, Benue Queens Crowned Champions at HFN North Central Division One Tourney

Published

2 hours ago

October 3, 2026

The Gleamer

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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