Sports
Grateful D”Tigress expresses Gratitude for overwhelming receptions
….Thanked Mr President, NSC, NBBF, and Corporate Nigeria for the show of love
Players and officials of the victorious D’Tigress are still basking in the euphoria of the welcome they received from both the Government, Corporate Nigeria and Nigerians after winning the Afrobasket for the 5th consecutive time in Cote d’Ivoire.
The players and their officials have been warmly received back home since their heroic feat in Abidjan where they did the unprecedented by winning the African women title for a record five times in a row.
After winning the tournament, the Nigeria basketball Federation,NBBF, alongside the National Sports Commission, NSC, ensured the team was flown back home as royalties in a chartered flight to officially present the trophy to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR , at the Presidential Villa.
And taking a look at all that were put together for the team in the last few days, the players expressed profound gratitude and appreciation to the Federal Government and the Corporation Bodies led by Zenith Bank PLC.
Captain of the Team, Amy Okonkwo described all the receptions as an unforgettable experience of a lifetime for them.
” My girls and myself are sincerely overwhelmed to see how the whole country welcomed us and showed us love. It’s being a wonderful and undescribable experience, and we are even more motivated now to go on to do more for the country.
” Mr President showed us fatherly love and has given us more hope for the future. What can I say about our mothers – the Minister of Women Affairs, the Minister of Culture and Creative Economy and the Minister of state for Finance. Their support has been very inspiring and as a team, we are very thankful”.
” The Leadership of the National Sports Commission, NSC, led by Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko and the Director General Hon. Bukola Olopade, has also been very supportive. We have never had it this good, seeing how the NSC has been very concerned about our welfare and success throughout the tournament”.
” I also want to thank the Corporate Nigeria especially Zenith Bank Plc, who have been a big backbone of Nigeria Basketball for many years.They played a big part in our success story today. A big thank you also to NNPC, and we are very excited for all the plans they are putting together for Nigerian basketball”.
Amy Okonkwo who was adjudged the best player at the tournament also gave a special appreciation to the leadership of the Nigeria Basketball Federation,NBBF, led by it’s President Engr Musa Kida.
” All of these would not have been possible if not for the kind of leadership of basketball in Nigeria led by our President, Engr Musa Kida, whose immense sacrifice has brought us this far. He is our father and leader who inspires us everyday alongside our General Manager Musa Adamu and other board members of the federation”, she concluded.
President of the NBBF, Engr Musa Kida, has also thanked everyone for making the victory of the girls an unforgettable experience, expressing confidence that this will surely open a new vista of growth for basketball in the country.
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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