Sports
NSC Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko declares 6th OSOM Games Open in a Colorful Ceremony
Joel Ajayi
Chairman of the National Sports Commission, NSC, Mallam Shehu Dikko has reassured Nigerian athletes of regular internal competitions as a key priority of the Renewed Hope Initiative for Nigerian Sports Economy, RHINSE, mandate of the Commission.
The Chairman stated this when he declared open the 6th edition of the One Service One medal ( OSOM) Games inside the mainbowl of the MKO stadium in Abuja on Thursday.
The Chairman emphasized the importance of organising such Games which amongst other things serves as a veritable tool to foster unity and commaraderie among the security agencies.
” We recognise the role the security agencies played in the rich sporting history of our country by producing some of the country’s finest athletes who have done the country proud at various international competitions”.
” And at the Sports Commission we acknowledge that the security agencies still has the potential to produce top class athletes for the country which is part of the reasons we are committed like never before to hosting this year’s OSOM Games”.
” Under the Renewed Hope Initiative for Nigeria Sports Economy( RHINSE ), mandate given to us by Mr President, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, the Sports Commission is committed to ensuring that there is regular competitions to discover new talents and to keep our athletes actively busy”.
” The OSOM Games is more than a competition. It is a building block in our broader vision to reform the Nigerian Sports Sector. As I said earlier , under the RHINSE initiative, we are committed to turning Sports from a field of consumption into one of Production. That means placing greater focus on local competitions like these”.
” I look forward to an exciting six days of competition and our eyes will be on some of the outstanding athletes that will distinguish themselves at the Games as we are currently building a sustainable pool of talents that will be ready to do the country proud at international competitions”.
The Chairman also used the opportunity to assure the athletes that the Commission will soon embark on infrastructural revamping of the country’s sporting facilities and the Abuja National stadium will soon undergo a total face-lift especially with the Pitch.
The Chairman maintained that infrastructural development and Athlete’s growth go hand in hand and the Sports Commission is fully committed to making this work.
The OSOM Games brings together all Service Agencies, both Military and Para Military, to compete under a fair and competitive atmosphere and will run from the 24-30th of April 2025.
Sports
Badminton Federation of Nigeria Targets Grassroots Growth, Coaches’ Capacity Building
Joel Ajayi
The President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), Francis Orbih, says the federation has launched an ambitious reform programme anchored on structured planning, grassroots development, and long-term athlete progression across all levels of the sport.
Speaking on Thursday in Abuja, after two-day retreat at ANOCA building where board members, technical experts, and stakeholders gathered under the theme: Repositioning Badminton for Sustainable Growth’ gathered to chart a way forward for the Game.
Orbih said the sessions were designed to align stakeholders on a unified four-year strategic roadmap focused on improving governance, strengthening performance systems, and expanding participation nationwide.
He noted that key priorities discussed include technical development, coaching education, athlete welfare, and a more coordinated grassroots structure through school-based programmes.
According to him, the federation has approved the creation of 11 committees to drive implementation of its reforms, with emphasis on accountability, coordination, and measurable performance outcomes.
“We wanted a collective approach where decisions are jointly owned and implemented, with clear and measurable results.
‘’A major pillar of the plan is grassroots badminton development, particularly in schools.’’
He explained that while outreach programmes have existed, the federation is now shifting toward a more structured and data-driven approach with wider national coverage.
Orbih disclosed that the federation currently reaches an average of 25 to 30 schools per zonal outreach programme, but plans are underway to expand coverage across more states and increase consistency of engagement.
He also highlighted gaps in coaching capacity, noting that the number of certified coaches in Nigeria remains relatively low compared to other countries. The federation, he said, will intensify coaching education and certification programmes to close the gap and improve technical standards.
“We have over 100 coaches in Nigeria, but many are not actively engaged in continuous training. We want to strengthen that system and raise the standard,” he added.
The BFN president further confirmed the introduction of structured age-grade development pathways, covering under-12, under-15, under-19, and other youth categories to ensure seamless progression from grassroots to elite level.
President added that, federation plans to organise more age-group tournaments to sustain player development and improve competitive exposure.
Speaking also, the Technical Director of the federation, Tunde Kashim, also emphasised that the technical department remains central to the reform agenda, describing it as the “engine room” of badminton development in the country.
He said the department is reviewing player databases, coaching structures, and competition pathways to ensure a stronger performance system.
Kashim added that efforts will be made to upgrade coaching levels across the country, including progression through certification tiers, while also addressing the declining number of active coaches in the system.
He further revealed plans to expand youth competitions across multiple age categories, including under-12, under-15, under-16, and under-19 levels, aimed at strengthening the talent pipeline from schools to elite competition.
According to him, the federation is also working with state stakeholders to improve facilities and increase participation, while preparing for upcoming national and continental engagements.
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