Sports
Minister Inspects Sports Facilities In Enugu Expresses Desire To Partner With The State for Development
Joel Ajayi
The Honourable Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Enoh has expressed the Federal Government’s desire to partner with the Enugu State Government to ensure the development of sports in the country not only at the grassroots level but also to unlock its economic potential in line with global realities.
Senator John Owan Enoh disclosed this during a courtesy visit on the Executive Governor of Enugu State, His Excellency Dr Peter Ndubusi Mbahheld at the Government House Enugu, the Enugu State Capital.
Senator Owan Enoh stated that the new vision and thinking of the Federal Government was to make sports a profitable venture by moving the sector away from mere recreation to a business.
He explained that his visit to the Executive Governor of Enugu State was to discuss how both the Federal and Enugu State Governments can partner together to explore ways to fully unlock the economic potentials of sports in Nigeria and in the process, unleash one of the most consequential transformations of the 21st century.
The Minister informed that sports was a five trillion dollar industry that has the capacity to inspire and change the world.
It has the power to give hope when there is despair. Sports speak to the youth in the language they understand. Sports has more power than government to break barriers and boundaries of racial discrimination and injustices* he said.
The Minister stated that it was for these reasons and many more that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his wisdom decided to create a separate Ministry of Sports Development and has also recently endosed the National Sports Industry Policy (NSIP) in the Renewed Hope Agenda of government to provide opportunities for the private sector participation in the development of sports in Nigeria.
The Minister informed that the policy outlines some incentives that can attract private sector investors such as *tax exemption and rebate for a period of 5 years for investors in the value chain of sports; land provision and waiver for certain fees on lands meant for sports; single digit loan interest rates for corporate organizations and private individuals investing in the sports value chain as well as independent Government Grant through the establishment of an Independent Athletes Welfare Fund (AWF) from which athletes representing the country can draw support for education and training amongst others.
Senator Owan Enoh who commended the Executive Governor and the good people of Enugu State for their commitment to the development of the sports sector in the state through various innovative and comprehensive upgrades and rebranding of sporting facilities in the state, stated that sports has the capacity of solving challenges of unemployment as it is capable of creating jobs opportunities for our teeming youth, alleviate poverty as well as contribute to our Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
He added that sports has remained the most unifying factor in Nigeria and that if well harnessed, it can bring the desired peace and security the country requires.
In his response, the Executive Governor of Enugu State, His Excellency Dr Peter Ndubusi Mbah stated that Enugu State was ready to partner with the Federal Government in its effort to unlock the economic potential of sports in the country.
He assured that the state would play a significant leadership role in catalyzing the change that the nation sought to achieve in sports development, especially as the Sports Policy of the Federal Government, is in line with his vision.
The Governor noted that the Vision of the Federal Government on Sports Development *is reassuring because that is in line with the vision of this administration, which is also in our manifesto, on how youth are going to be integrated into the economic development trajectory. Enugu State has a growth trajectory of $4.4 billion to $30 billion in the next eight years and we are very mindful of the role sports will play to achieve this target* he said.
Dr Ndubus, who called for more collaboration between the government and private sector to expand the horizon of sports development for economic growth, informed that his administration was building back Enugu Rangers and re-enacting it back to what it used to be.
*We have the branding of the Rangers jersey by Afrinvest, and other private investors are also showing interest in investing in the club. We will not be left behind; we will fight toe to toe with the Federal Government and make sure we change the way sports is perceived in the country and Enugu will be a model for that* the Governor assured.
It is worthy to note that the Honourable Minister of Sports Development Senator John Owan Enoh since his assumption of office has been canvassing for massive private sector investment and participation in sports development in Nigeria as well as echoing assurances of the Federal Government’s readiness to incentivize Critical Areas of Sports Development in line with global realities.
It is the desired hope of all sports-loving Nigerians that the efforts of Senator Owan Enoh should pave the way for the transformation of this critical industry.
Signed Media office of the Honourable Minister of Sports Development.
November 10, 2023
Sports
Plateau Vipers, Benue Queens Crowned Champions at HFN North Central Division One Tourney
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.
-
Featured7 years agoLampard Names New Chelsea Manager
-
Featured6 years agoFG To Extends Lockdown In FCT, Lagos Ogun states For 7days
-
Featured7 years agoChildren Custody: Court Adjourns Mike Ezuruonye, Wife’s Case To April 7
-
Featured7 years agoNYSC Dismisses Report Of DG’s Plan To Islamize Benue Orientation Camp
-
Featured5 years agoTransfer Saga: How Mikel Obi Refused to compensate me After I Linked Him Worth $4m Deal In Kuwait SC – Okafor
-
Featured7 years ago
Board urges FG to establish one-stop rehabilitation centres in 6 geopolitical zones
-
Sports4 years ago
TINUBU LAMBAST DELE MOMODU
-
News2 years agoZulu to Super Eagles B team, President Tinubu is happy with you
