Sports

NCF And Steps Toward Taking Cricket Game To Nooks And Crannies Of Nigeria

Published

9 months ago

September 26, 2024

By Joel Ajayi

Without an iota of doubt, or amplifying, in the last few years, the game of Cricket in the country has taken the path of history, Cricket is not new in the country, it was one of the first internationally recognized sports in the most populous black Nation.

According to history, Cricket was introduced into and first played in Nigeria by British colonial administrators in the 19th century as the first international cricket match involving Nigeria was against the Gold Coast (now Ghana) in 1904.

Excitingly, Cricket is now the game in which Nigeria has the highest ranking presently. Nigeria has risen to 25th in the world rankings for female cricket, from 42nd, while the men’s team has climbed to 28th, also from 48th

Since 2020, Nigeria started breaking new grounds in the game of Cricket and is now one of the countries feared for its prowess in the game after beating hands down Zimbabwe U19 Women’s team, just on Monday, thereby making history by beating a test-playing nation Zimbabwe by one wicket at the Ongoing Africa U19 World Cup Qualifiers in Rwanda.

The victory will be the first time the women’s cricket team will beat any of the International Cricket Council (ICC) 10 test-playing nations, which are usually regarded as the elite cricket-playing nations.

Not only that, facilities that were a serious issue are not a thing of the past, as the Nigeria Cricket Federation’s effort is yielding impressive results.

Currently, Nigeria can boast of beautiful ovals, starting from the beautiful twin Oval in Nigeria’s capital city, in the North central region of the country.

Also, with Tafawa Balewa Square Cricket Oval in Lagos in the Southwest.

In the South-south part of the country, Iyoba College and the Edo Boys High School High-Performance Center in Benin, Edo State were put in better perspective to enable the game to be played while Akwa Ibom Oval is almost ready

In the North West Kaduna Oval is nearly ready courtesy of the Kaduna State government.

While some sports are battling with age cheats, the NCF have had it all figured out by putting up a clear-cut mechanism at developmental stages.

No wonder today, 90% of Nigerian players are the product of grassroots drive through the national championship, compared to some sports federations with the syndrome of foreign players.

Today, coaches are swelling up; from about just 10 to over 41 coaches doing well for the country.

Also, close to 50 curators are on the payroll of the federation.

However, the federation under the leadership of Uyi Akpata, is not planning to relax its efforts in making cricket the most popular sport in the country as he said efforts are being made to stage more competitions for the growth of the game.

As at today, Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) is set to launch its largest-ever Super Cricket Festival, bringing together between 600 to 1,000 female secondary school students at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, this October.

Akpata revealed this on Tuesday in Abuja during a media briefing with stakeholders. He attributed the unprecedented growth and transformation of cricket over the past four years to a strong passion for the development of the sport across the country. He emphasized that the federation is committed to ensuring cricket reaches every corner of Nigeria.

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Sports

Fatimah Yusuf Olukoju Emerges NAWIS Representative on AFN Board

Published

5 hours ago

June 9, 2025

The Gleamer

By Joel Ajayi

Renowned former Nigerian sprinter Fatimah Yusuf Olukoju has been elected as the Nigeria Association for Women in Sports (NAWIS) representative on the board of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN).

Her emergence followed a transparent electoral process conducted by NAWIS on Monday at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja. Olukoju secured 30 votes out of 45, defeating her sole opponent, Dr. Nneka Anibeze, who polled 15 votes.

The election aligns with the revised AFN constitution, which reserves a dedicated seat on the board for a women-in-sports representative.

A trailblazer in Nigerian athletics, Fatimah Yusuf Olukoju brings a wealth of experience to her new role. A former Olympian and African champion, she is best remembered for her record-breaking performances in the 400 metres and her pivotal role in Nigeria’s relay teams during the 1990s.

Her appointment is expected to bolster advocacy for gender inclusion, athlete welfare, and grassroots development within the federation.

In her acceptance speech, Olukoju expressed heartfelt gratitude for the trust placed in her by NAWIS members, pledging to work tirelessly to promote the interests of women in sports.

“Once again, I want to thank our founder and the NAWIS EXCO leadership. Leadership isn’t about how far you advance yourself—it’s about how far you can advance others,” she said.“If you’re not passing on what you’ve learned and experienced to those you lead, you’re not setting yourself up for lasting success. Leaders are meant to serve others.”

She also emphasized her readiness to take on the responsibility, regardless of her location.

“Thank God I have good health and stamina. I’m ready to contribute positively to the growth of sports in Nigeria, especially women in sports.

“Let me remind you that I have always answered the call to serve Nigeria, no matter where I lived at the time.

“I am ready to serve again in this new capacity, and distance will never stand in the way. I will always be physically present to carry out this great responsibility whenever necessary.”

With her appointment, Fatimah Yusuf Olukoju is set to be a powerful voice on the AFN board—representing women, championing development, and shaping a stronger future for Nigerian athletics.

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