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NIGTEQ Donates Teqball Tables To State Associations, others

Published

5 years ago

March 17, 2021

….Seeks Nigerians support to grow the game

Joel Ajayi

The Nigeria Teqball Federation NIGTEQ in collaboration with Hungary Embassy in Nigeria on Tuesday, donated Teqball tables to 29 states including FCT, Schools in geo-political zones and others, the equipment, they believe, would help in the development of the game in the country and beyond.

Presenting the equipment to state chairmen in Abuja, the President of Nigeria Olympic Committee NOC and President of the NIGTEQ Federation, Engr. Habu Gumel, in the company of board executive of the federation and Hungarian Ambassador to Nigeria, revealed that the donation will help the state to develop the game across the country.

According to him, we want to make the game to move faster and be recognized in Africa, we want to ensure that in Africa, Nigeria is the best in terms of Teqball development.

“To me, so far so good, we have 29 states, we have the clubs, and we want to ensure that in every nook and crannies of the country, Teqball will be known.

“In the next two years, I believe Teqball will be acceptable in all states and there will be a lot of drive, we are going to work with the ministry, very soon, we’ll start attending international competition.” he said.

Engr. Gumel however, charged all the states to use the equipment for the growth of the game, “I called on the state chairmen not to keep the tables in the store but to make use of it effectively in such a way that will bring growth to the country.”

In his remarks, the Hungarian Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Sandor Beer, said the embassy is not leaving any stone unturned to ensure development of sports in Nigeria saying that, the relationship with Nigeria government has grown even stronger.

“The purpose of this collaboration therefore, is to strengthen the bilateral relations between our countries and offer a wonderful opportunity to hatch young athletes.

“Our commitment is to foster growth between the two countries, and one of the most important possible tools is sports, we have a common goal beside, we see the youth in Nigeria and Hungary as the most important. There is no doubt, Nigeria, as a nation, has abundant of talents, not only in football but in other sports.”

Speaking also, the General Secretary of the federation, Mr. Ndudi Edede, who has been working day and night for the growth of the game in Nigeria said, Teqball was introduced to Nigeria by the embassy of Hungary in 2018 and since then, the game is growing gradually in the country.

While giving explanation about the sport, he explained that Teqball is a sport in nature of table tennis and football that is played with all parts of the body except hands , it has less injury, it’s a sport that is enjoyable and 100% sure of flourishing in Nigeria.

According to him, Teqball is already in 211 countries in the world.

“We have 29 member states including FCT and we are working hard to have all the 36 states of the federation very soon.”

Talking on the importance of the donation of the Teqball tables to the state federations, he said; “I think it’s going to help a lot, because since the inception, we had just 3 Teqball tables in the country and this has slowed the growth of the game in Nigeria. Now, total number of 56 tables was donated by Hungary embassy, this means there is going to be a lot of improvement soon.

“In our plan to spread the game, we used certain criteria in the distribution of the tables, we are giving the last year’s best two NPFL clubs Enyimba FC and Plateau United tables, we are giving the 4 best NWFL River Angels, Bayelsa Queen, Kogi Confluence and Nassarawa Amazon one each, we will also give two school in each geopolitical zones and also recreation centers. We are still expecting more.”

When asked about funding of the game, he replied, the NIGTEQ right now is being funded by the member of the executive committee, but I can assure you that the federation will not relent in its determination to create more awareness in the country, in order to attract the sponsors.

He however, said that federations have lined-up a lot of tourneys in the country as well as training for Coaches and Referees.

Mr. Emmanuel, therefore, commended the Eaglenet logistic service limited for the service rendered in convening the Teqball tables, while using the occasion to seek support of corporate bodies as well as well-meaning Nigerians.

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Nigeria’s Historic Bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games: A Call for National and Global Support

Published

6 days ago

September 30, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

Nigeria is poised to make history as it seeks to host the Centenary Commonwealth Games in 2030, a monumental opportunity that promises to transform the nation’s economy, infrastructure, and global standing.

More than a sporting spectacle, the Games would serve as a catalyst for development across multiple sectors, leaving behind a legacy of national pride and sustainable growth.

The benefits of hosting the Games extend far beyond the sports arena. Nigeria stands to gain both empirical and non-empirical advantages, with direct, indirect, and induced impacts that will touch every corner of society. Infrastructural development will take center stage, with new facilities such as indoor sports halls, conference centers, and improved road networks reshaping urban landscapes while strengthening the nation’s capacity to host future international events.

Economic growth is another significant dividend. Over 10,000 jobs are expected to be created, spanning construction, facility management, event planning, and tourism services.

The hospitality industry will undergo major improvements as hotels and resorts are upgraded to meet international standards, while local restaurants, lounges, and tourist attractions will see a surge in patronage from international visitors. Small and medium enterprises, particularly in the transport, finance, and food service sectors, will become some of the greatest beneficiaries, as the Games generate new demand and expand opportunities for local businesses.
The Commonwealth Games will also accelerate the growth of Nigeria’s sports industry.

Investments in training facilities, coaching, and talent development will inspire a new generation of athletes, ensuring long-term benefits that extend beyond 2030, a major focus of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
At the same time, the process of preparing for the Games will create opportunities for Nigerians to learn new crafts, acquire technical skills, and engage in global-standard event management, thereby strengthening human capacity and innovation across industries.

Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the Nigeria Sports Commission, and Hon. Bukola Olopade, the Director General, have been widely recognized for their tireless and visionary leadership in repositioning Nigeria’s sporting sector.

Their commitment to facilitating infrastructural development and strengthening grassroots sports development has laid the foundation for Nigeria’s bold bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Under their leadership, the NSC is fostering strategic partnerships and driving innovation in sports administration, they have demonstrated the nation’s readiness to stage an event of such global magnitude.

Beyond the tangible gains, the hosting of the 2030 Commonwealth Games carries profound symbolic value. It would be a moment of unity and pride, a chance for Nigeria to showcase its cultural richness, resilience, and excellence to the world.
As a centenary edition, the Games would stand as a historic milestone not just for the Commonwealth but for Nigeria itself, cementing its place on the global stage as a capable, ambitious, and forward-looking nation.

The gains from hosting the Commonwealth Games can never be undermined or overemphasized. This is Nigeria’s time to step forward and show the world our resilience, and excellence. We call on every Nigerian, across sectors and communities, to support this noble aspiration.

Nigeria’s pursuit of the 2030 Commonwealth Games is a vision for transformation, a blueprint for national development, and a legacy project that will inspire generations to come.

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