Sports
Nigeria Baseball & softball Federation marks World Baseball Day with developmental programmes
…Targets 2028 olympics
Joel Ajayi
As the world celebrates World Baseball Day, stakeholders in Nigeria’s baseball and softball community have reaffirmed their commitment to reviving and developing the sport across the country starting from the grassroots.
The event, held weekend in Abuja which featured participation from students across Federal Capital Territory and players from Kaduna state.
Speaking at a commemorative event, Uche Paulinus Odozor, President of Baseball and Softball Federation and a sports physician, emphasized the importance of catching them young. “Baseball is not just a game—it is about shaping lives, instilling discipline, and teaching scientific principles like aerodynamics, mathematics, and physics through sport.”
He highlighted the unique educational value of baseball, stating that its foundation is rooted in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).
According to him, early exposure helps children grasp complex concepts while building character and physical fitness.
“That is why our primary focus is taking baseball back to where it belongs: the schools, the children, and the families,” he explained
He stressed that Nigeria, with a population of over 200 million, has the potential to become a major player in the global baseball scene.
“This is a billion-dollar global industry. We can’t afford to trivialize it. We are going back to the basics—and we are making remarkable progress,” he added.
On the issue of infrastructure, Odozor revealed that the official baseball park—constructed in 2003—had deteriorated over time.
However, thanks to renewed interest and support from the National Sports Commission, renovation efforts have begun.
“We’re appealing to both government and private sector stakeholders to help us restore the park to world-class standards. Baseball requires precision—from field layout to equipment—and we’re committed to achieving that,” he said.
When asked about the challenges facing the sport, Odozor noted that baseball remains underrepresented in Nigeria’s mainstream sports discussions, but they are determined to change that narrative. “We’re not just aiming for top 10 recognition—we want to make baseball Nigeria’s number one sport,” he declared.
Odozor expressed appreciation to the Governor of Kaduna State, local commissioners, and the Federal Capital Territory Administration for their support and enthusiasm for the sport.
The event concluded with friendly matches involving 10 invited schools—a manageable number, according to organizers, as they plan for much larger participation in future editions.
In his own, Ambrose Ozimede, Secretary General of Baseball and Softball said that Nigeria, is committed to taking the game to every region—from the north to the south and across the west.
He revealed that Nigerian youth teams are actively participating in the international baseball scene.
“This year, we will be sending three teams to compete in the Babe Ruth World Series across the U-12, U-14, and U-16/18 categories. We also plan to include football in the near future, possibly as early as next year,” he added.
He encouraged state governments and local communities to join the movement, noting the growing interest among young athletes and the significant opportunities the sport offers.
Highlighting the role of leadership in advancing the sport, Ozimede praised the efforts of the current President of the Nigerian Baseball and Softball Federation, Mr. Uche Paulinus Odozor.
“In just a few months under his leadership, we’ve seen more progress and visibility than in the last six years.
Sports
A Triumphant Close to the 22nd National Sports Festival
…As organisers promise another spectacle at closing ceremony on Thursday
Joel Ajayi
After 11 days of a true showcase of sporting competition in multiple Sports by some of the country’s top and even promising athletes, the curtain will finally be drawn on what many have described as one of the best ever organised National Sports festivals, when the closing ceremony is held on Thursday at the MKO Sports Arena in Abeokuta.
Whilst the quality of the Games’ opening ceremony is still getting tongues wagging, the entire sporting family and beyond is now anxiously looking forward to what the closing ceremony will look like.
The last 11 days have showcased Ogun state as a true Sporting hub with potential to even do more, with the quality of the facilities built for the games and the enthusiasm of the people who made the various venues their second home in the last few days.
A big testament to this was the history-making crowd that attended the male football final between Ogun state and Kwara State, which the host won by 4-1.
The MKO stadium was filled to full capacity while the crowd outside watching from the big screen reminds one of how much Sports is truly the soul of our togetherness as a country.
From the Alake Sports centre in Ijeja and the Baptist boys high school, to the Obafemi Awolowo square and the Remo stadium both in Ikenne, to the NYSC orientation camp in Shagamu, and the Ilisan town hall in Ilisan, the festival never lacked spectatorship throughout the games.
The Games actually lived up to the pre-tournament hype as both the National Sports Commission, NSC and the Ogun state Government pulled out every administrative capacity to ensure both athletes, officials and the media have an unforgettable experience.
The Gateway Games 2024 had been full of exciting drama and intrigues amongst the states and athletes which led to different new records being set and some old records being shattered.
The festival has also produced for the country some new exciting young talents especially with the shocking performance of the 38th state, the Invited Junior Athletes ( IJA), where they ended up winning some surprised medals to justify the Commission’s establishment of the initiative.
As the Closing ceremony holds on Thursday, the leadership of the National Sports commission, NSC, expresses its profound gratitude to the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Ogun State Government for making sure millions of Nigerian youths see a renewed brighter future in the country through the National Sports Festival.
The NSC Chairman Mallam Shehu Dilko said ” our overwhelming gratitude goes to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,GCFR, for his personal commitment to the development of Nigerian Sports by giving us every support financially and otherwise for the success of this festival”.
” And the Ogun state Governor, Dapo Abiodun also deserves a huge praise for the feat we all recorded with these games. I can’t thank him enough and posterity will surely remember him for good “.
The NSC Director General who is also the Chairman of the Main organising committee of the games, Hon Bukola Olopade also extended his gratitude to all the technocrats behind the scene that are responsible for the successful organisation of the games.
” From all the members of the Main organising committee to the various sub committees, to members of the local organising committees and all our technical officials in the various sports to the media and our athletes, every success that everyone is talking about concerning these Games belongs to you all”.
” Yes it was not a perfect festival because we acknowledged we had also some challenges but let me assure everyone that some of the challenges are already being worked upon ahead of the next Games holding in Enugu state next year”, he concluded.
The Closing ceremony is expected to bring together top Government functionaries to captain of industries while there will also be the rich cultural display of the state as Ogun state will officially pass the barton of hosting to Enugu state for the 23rd edition of the Games come September 2026.
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