Sports

First National Council on Sports Meeting commences in Enugu

Published

2 years ago

May 20, 2024

Joel Ajayi

The vision of Senator John Owan Enoh,the Minister of Sports Development to revolutionize Nigerian sports development through the introduction and implementation of a raft of policies got underway in Enugu on Monday with the commencement of the 1st National Council on Sports, the first of its kind since the de-merger of Ministry of Youths and Sports.

The 3-Day Council Meeting taking place at the behest of the Ministry of Sports Development under the guidance and leadership of Senator John Owan Enoh with the Enugu State Government as the host state is expected to ratify progressive and enduring policies that will revolutionize sports administration and development in Nigeria.

In her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Sports Development, Mrs. Tinuke Watti noted that the first National Council on Sports, coming after the de-merger of the Ministry of Youths and Sports reflects the importance of Sports in the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration.

According to the Permanent Secretary, the theme of the Council meeting, “Sports for National Unity and Socio-Economic Growth”, is of critical relevance as the country navigate the challenges and opportunities of our current evolution.
Identifying national unity as the critical goal of any nation, she underscored the important role sports can play in achieving it.She said,” Sports have been a cornerstone of our nation’s cultural fabric. They transcend the barriers of language, ethnicity, religion, uniting us under the common banner of competition, achievement and collective pride.”

Apart from fulfilling its core functions,she said that sports constitute a major industry with the capacity to generate employment, drive economic development and improve public health. The Permanent Secretary canvassed for the adoption of a holistic and inclusive approach to sports development to foster partnerships between the government, private sector and international bodies.

She expressed her implicit confidence in the ability of experts and consultants who will lead technical sessions during the meeting to come up with policies that would serve as a guide for improved decisions in the sports sector.

In his welcome address, the Governor of Enugu State Dr. Peter MBAH represented by the Deputy Governor, said that the state was honoured to host the Council meeting on Sports composed of sports administrators, Policymakers, technocrats and stakeholders who share a common vision of advancing sports in Nigeria.

“As we gather for the technical session of this esteemed council,we are not only participants in a meeting but also pioneers charting a new course for the future of sports in Nigeria.”

He advised the meeting to engage in open, constructive and forward thinking discussions and to leverage our collective expertise to address challenges facing the sports sector.

According to the governor, critical areas such as infrastructure development, athlete welfare,funding mechanism, coaching standards and grassroots sports programmes require the utmost attention and concerted effort of the Council meeting.

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Sports

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

Published

13 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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