Sports

NSC Presents Official Hosting Rights Award Letter to Enugu State for 2026 NSF

Published

2 years ago

January 14, 2025

…As Commission, Enugu State Gov’t discusses expectations, opportunities for 2026 event

Joel Ajayi

The National Sports Commission (NSC) has taken a significant forward step in the preparations for the 2026 National Sports Festival, after the Commission officially presented the Letter of Award for the hosting of the Games to the Enugu State Government, on Tuesday.

The leader of the NSC delegation to the event at the Enugu State Government House, Director General, Hon. Bukola Olopade, said the Governor Peter Mbah-led administration has shown immense dedication in working with the NSC to deliver a spectacular event.

The event included discussion on key topics including infrastructure development, logistical planning, and the festival’s potential economic and social benefits for Enugu State.

Hon. Olopade outlined specific baseline requirements for hosting the festival, including the provision of state-of-the-art sporting facilities, efficient logistics, and the establishment of an environment that fosters sportsmanship and unity among participants and spectators.

“The National Sports Festival is more than just a competition; it is a platform for fostering unity, showcasing talent, and driving development,” Hon. Olopade stated. “Before the current NSC leadership assumed office, Enugu had already been given the nod as hosts, and upon our arrival, we facilitated the final approval to cement that decision.”

“For the first time in history, we are announcing the host of the next edition ahead of the commencement of the current Festival. This shift is deliberate, providing ample planning time and ensuring that Enugu delivers a spectacular event.

Traditionally, the next host was only unveiled during closing ceremonies, but we believe this proactive approach will set a new standard for excellence in hosting the National Sports Festival.”

The Executive Governor of Enugu State, Peter Ndubuisi Mbah expressed gratitude to the National Sports Commission for presenting the State with the official hosting letter. He said it represented a proud moment for the people of Enugu State.

“Enugu State has a rich sporting history that dates back to the pre-independence era,” the Governor said. “Beyond being a commercial hub of our nation, we have woven ourselves into the fabric of sports excellence. We are fully prepared to host the National Sports Festival and have already embarked on several projects to ensure our facilities meet world-class standards.”

“The Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, along with other key facilities, will be ready to deliver a memorable experience for athletes and spectators alike,” the Governor added.

The NSC remains committed to working closely with the Enugu State Government to create an unforgettable sporting spectacle that aligns with the nation’s vision of building a viable sports economy and using sports as a tool for development and social cohesion. Excitement continues to build as the National Sports Festival returns to the Coal City for the first time in 28 years.

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Sports

Plateau Vipers, Benue Queens Crowned Champions at HFN North Central Division One Tourney

Published

5 hours ago

October 3, 2026

The Gleamer

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.

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