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Interview: With the Growth of Volleyball in Nigeria, Football is in trouble-Engr. Nimrod

Published

6 years ago

August 13, 2019

Since he assumed office as the President of Nigeria Volleyball Federation NVF, Engr Musa Nimrod has indeed with the wealth of his experience, passion and desire has turned the fortune of the game in the country and beyond. In this interview with Journalists during his recent grassroots development initiative tagged “Nimrod 300” summer talents volleyball holiday camp tourney” Joel Ajayi of The Gleamer News was there as he speaks about the initiative; his efforts toward the growth of the Volleyball; his desire and the forthcoming All Africa Games amongst other.

How would you describe the 300 kid’s initiative?

I am so impressed with the kid’s performance, let me tell you the truth 50 years ago when I was a kid like them when I started Volleyball. I am so happy today. So, is that how I started? I was like them when I was picking ball when the civil war was going on and I started playing this ball in the barrack that reminded me that any opportunity that comes our way we should use it well, destiny belong to God and today I am an administrator, I thank God.

We have seen so many laudable events like this and they are not sustained. Here are 300 kids Nimrod Volleyball Clinch. What is the sustainable plan for this initiative?

I am sorry to say this my motto, mission and vision is sustainable development and excellent. Let me tell you, we have been doing this in the North West for more than 9 years by the grace of God we shall sustain this program. These programs will be sustained with excellent God’s willing.

What do you have to say about the continuity of this program?

We have been doing it, a lot of people have been supporting this program, right now, as I talk to you the Kaduna North West event is taking off next week, yes, and it has been going on every year, every year we do it during holiday look when these children go back to school you will not believe it, we all saw how they were playing, it was fantastic, football is in trouble.

Tell us the objectives of the event and volleyball in general?

The objective is three, one sport with a passion that will develop the health, the intelligent, number two, education, number three anti-drugs these are my objectives and these kids will be greater than me in the future.

If I was involved in drugs, I wouldn’t have gotten to where I am today, if I did not go to school, I will not be where I am today professionally number if I did not have passion in sports I will not be a sport administrator and be doing what God wants me to do.

Is there any plan toward grooming these kids to Under 13, 15 or Under 19 in the nearest future?

You have heard it, two years ago we don’t have the opportunity that is why I told you football is in trouble, today you are seen under 13, under 15.

Let me tell you if you don’t know, is the current Africa champion in under 17, we are the current Africa champions in under 19 so what else do you want to say and we are going to All Africa Games in the senior level.

Are you satisfied with the performance of the kids?

I am satisfied, fantastic, excellent, see the way the kids were setting, spanking, these kids will give under 17 under 19 tough times.

All Africa Games are just a few days to go. What should Nigerians be expecting from the volleyball team?

I am somebody who doesn’t promise anything until after the game, but I want to thank God I have seen the grouping and that is where I will stop but I know by the grace of God those who said volleyball is not a medal prospect sports they will see the shock.

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Featured

CELEBRATING A CENTURY-OLD CIVIL AVIATION SECTOR TRAJECTORY IN NIGERIA

Published

1 week ago

December 1, 2025

The Gleamer

This week, millions of Nigerians and others across the globe will join the Ministry of Aviation and Space Development under the irrepressible leadership of the Honourable Minister, Festus Keyamo(SAN),and all the notable Aviation sector stakeholders in and outside the country,in celebrating a century of Nigeria’s civil aviation history.

There is no doubt that under the present leadership of the Honourable Minister and within the short spell of time in his stewardship,he has consciously and intentionally embarked on a “silent revolution” for the industry with very veritable and laudable landmarks that have consistently grown the industry.

Some of these spirited efforts for instance have consequently led to trust restoration amongst international lessors, financier,any global partners.Of note also is assidiously working for the full domestication and implementation of the “Cape Town Convention Agreement” ,which gives Airlines access to modern fleets of competitive rates as well as enforcement of IDERA(Irrevocable Deregulation and Export Request Authorization).

Having well applauded these vital contemporary initiatives,it will also be germane to cast our minds in retrospect by taking a peep into our history over several decades to recognise some of the notable forebears in the industry whose impressionabl efforts cannot be overlooked,as they took the impetuous initiatives of breaking the ice at the nascent stage.
It will aptly corroborate the truism which says that… ” a journey of a thousand miles starts with one step”.

The above is vividly captured from a tribute by the First Republic Minister of Aviation Chief Mbazulike Amaechi at the funeral of late Igwe of Oba,HRH Peter Ezenwa(MFR) in 2018.
It states inter alia…”One significant thing I will say many people didn’t know is that the first indigenous airline that was to run in Nigeria was known as “STANDARD AIRLINE”.It was founded in 1966 by a company formed by Igwe Peter Ezenwa from Oba,and had on board,John Nwankwu from Abagana,Edward Ebo from Ezinifitte,(all from Anambra state),John Anyaehie from Nkwerre in Imo state,and lastly my very self Mbazulike Amaechi.
The five of us later acquired two brand new aircrafts,and had four pilots,namely;Unachievable,John Emma Ngwu and Felix Offor,who was to be the General Manager of the airline.
But just about the time for the take-off the crisis of the military takeover erupted in the North as the planes were on their way for delivery to us.In fact the bank handling the transaction was to allow the planes to be flown from the USA,but the news of the war broke out in 1967,the insurance company cabled for the cancellation of the deal as they will not be able to cover the risk cost of aircrafts being flown into war zone.
So,we asked the manufacturers to take the two aircrafts back to their country and hold on for six months with the hope of that the war will end within the requested time frame,but the war didn’t end as thought.We consequently asked for refund and they deducted some money and refunded the balance which was deposited at the London branch of African Continental Bank(ACB).

When the government took over the operations of ACB,we still hoped for the refund but unfortunately were disappointed that the Federal government took over the whole money and we lost everything.”

Further in line with our historical perspective,it will also be pertinent some of the later years reformists in the likes of Engr Onyereri and Harold Demuren who advertently sponsored some far reaching regulations that eventually steered the industry towards greater autonomy with the passage of the 2005 Civil Aviation Act,which I was also a prime participant of in my capacity as an Aviation sub chair in then House of Representatives.

As we mark this great century milestone,and with the clear evidential pathway set out by the current managers of the industry under the indomitable leadership of Honourable Minister, I do not see the sky posing any limitations as they say,but rather availing new vistas of limitless growth opportunities.

CONGRATULATIONS.

Hon Chidi Nwogu
Former member House of Representatives & presently Governing Council member
,African Aviation and Aerospace University,Abuja.

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