Sports

Go and Produce More Players Nimrod Tasks New FIVB Certified Nigerian Coaches

Published

4 years ago

April 19, 2023

Joel Ajayi

The President of Nigeria Volleyball Federation NVF Engr. Musa Nimrod has charged all the newly Federation of International Volleyball federation certified coaches to go to the nook and cranny of the nation and produce more players in the country.

It will be recalled that 45 Nigerians coaches’ underwent 5-day FIVB training courses inside Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja Package B after 16 years of such courses in the country.

Speaking shortly after the training in Abuja, Engr. Nimrod tells the coaches that Nigerian wants to see the impact of the training soon.

According to him, I am a professional engineer. I don’t believe a certificate is the major thing, we can earn a certificate, but are you putting it in practice? It’s not just to get the certificate, it’s now left for them to go back and be producing players. I will not be happy with them if they fail to produce players.

“We want to see the impact of this certificate. That is why we selected them from premier league to division 1, division 2 and even the state sports council. This is the time to produce more athletes.

“I want Nigerians to understand that this level 1 course took place 16 years ago, that is why we try our best to bring the coaching course and it was massive, the number of coaches coming for the course shows that we are on the right track.

“It’s our desire to hold a level 2 training course in August that is our agreement between the international coach and FIVB.

On his own, the FIVB instructor coach Emmanuel Esayas from Ethopia lauded Nigerian coaches saying that FIVB desire is to boost their effort toward the growth of the game.

“I think most of the coaches in Nigeria are talented because they play volleyball and if you play volleyball it is not difficult for them to understand the training, they know rules, skills, they know everything.

“We came here just to boost them to some level. I am here because of volleyball, and I saw many good coaches so I need Nigerian people to support them.”

One of the participant’s coaches who is head coach of Offa Volleyball club Suleiman Ajaegbe said that training will go a long way to help the coaches in the country.

“I think everyone here is really fulfilled, this is a course that was held 16 years ago for the federation to bring it, and it’s a big thing in our life.

“This training will go a long way in helping us, we shall work on what we have learnt here for a better future of volleyball in the country.”

Like Oliva Twist, he however, asked federation not let it take longer period of time before bringing the course back to the Nigeria

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Sports

SWAN President Calls for Gender-Fair Reporting in Sports Journalism

Published

4 hours ago

October 26, 2026

The Gleamer

By Joel Ajayi

The President of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Isaiah Kemje Benjamin, has urged sports journalists to eliminate gender stereotypes and bias in their reports to promote fairness, inclusion and greater visibility for women in sports.

Benjamin made the call on Monday in Abuja while delivering a presentation titled “Gender-Sensitive Journalism: Removing Gender Stereotypes and Bias in Sports Reporting” at the Annual Women in Sports Leadership Training/Seminar for Journalists, organised by the Women Commission of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC).

He said sports journalists play a critical role in shaping public opinion, influencing athletes’ visibility and determining which achievements receive recognition, sponsorship and investment.

According to him, the way the media reports women in sports can either reinforce existing barriers or help dismantle them.

Benjamin explained that gender-sensitive journalism requires fairness, accuracy, equality and inclusion, stressing that it does not mean giving female athletes favourable coverage or shielding them from legitimate criticism.

He identified common forms of bias in sports reporting, including giving men’s competitions greater prominence, focusing on female athletes’ appearance rather than performance, defining women by their marital or family status, and questioning their competence in leadership positions.

The SWAN president urged journalists to adopt respectful language, apply consistent professional standards and extend coverage beyond national teams to domestic leagues, grassroots competitions, female coaches, referees and sports administrators.

Using Nigeria’s sporting landscape as an example, he said the achievements of the Super Falcons deserved sustained analysis beyond match results, including discussions on investment, player development, professional leagues and grassroots structures.

He also noted that digital platforms offered opportunities to expand coverage of women’s sports but warned journalists against sensationalism, online harassment and sexist commentary.

Benjamin proposed seven measures, including gender-sensitive editorial guidelines, regular coverage audits, diversified sources, professional development, stronger grassroots reporting and measurable progress.

He called on SWAN to collaborate with the NOC, sports federations, leagues and clubs to improve access to information and strengthen women’s visibility in sports.

He urged journalists to ensure that athletes are judged by their performances and achievements rather than gender stereotypes.

“Gender-sensitive journalism must be fair, not favourable,” he said, emphasising that responsibility for change rests with reporters, editors, broadcasters, photographers and digital publishers.

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