Sports

NSF 2024: FG Inaugurates MOC, Charges Them On Sponsorship

Published

3 years ago

November 8, 2023

Joel Ajayi

The Federal Government has inaugurated the Main Organizing Committee (MOC) for the successful hosting of the 22nd Edition of the National Sports Festival, tagged GATEWAY GAMES OGUN 2024
scheduled to take place next year in Abeokuta, Ogun State Capital.

The Honourable Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh who inaugurated the committee today in his office at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Abuja, stated that the inauguration of the MOC was a fallout of the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the 6th of May 2023 between the Federal Ministry of Sports Development and the Ogun State Government which signified the commencement of hosting the Sports Festival.

He stated that the inauguration of the Main Organising Committee marks another remarkable milestone for him as the Honourable Minister of Sports Development as well as the National Sports Festival in particular.

While acknowledging that the organization of the National Sports Festival is an enormous task that requires commitment and dedication especially, taking into account that the MOC has short time to put everything in place for the successful hosting of the games, Senator Owan Enoh
expressed optimism that with the zeal and determination of Ogun State Government as well as the calibre of people who constitute the MOC, the task of organizing the festival will not be insurmountable

He asserted his dismay over the manner, in which our National Sports Festival is fully dependent on the Federal and State Governments for funds, explaining that last year’s festival alone hosted not less than 15000 athletes and team officials; outside the technical officials, sports federation personnel and service providers. The trend, he said, is unacceptable and must not be allowed to continue.

The Minister explained that although, the tradition was for the funding of the games to be shared between the Federal
Ministry of Sports Development and the state hosting the games, but that with the current economic realities and especially with the global practice, sponsorship of sporting events is no longer the responsibility of government alone as sports has become a business the world over, and that Nigeria cannot be an exemption.

He stated that conscious of this fact was one of the reasons why the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Administration in its Renewed Hope Agenda endosed the National Sports Industry Policy approved by the immediate past administration to drive the Sports Development in the country so as to provide our teeming youth with job opportunities and alleviate poverty amongst them with a view to ensuring a peaceful and safe society for the benefit of all Nigerians.

He added that with the National Sports Industry Policy kicking in, sports should now be seen by all as not only a mere recreation but a business where private sector can invest their resources to yield greater benefits and profits.

The Minister described sports as a multi billion dollar business which is driven successfully by the
private sector globally and expressed optimism that if that could work in other climes, there is no reason it should not work in Nigeria.

Senator Owan Enoh stated further that
after 22 years, the National Sports Festival has become a brand capable of attracting corporate sponsorship. He therefore charged the Main Organising Committee to package the Festival in such a way that it will make it attractive for the private sector to sponsor.

The Minister used the opportunity to appealed to all sports loving Nigerians, private and corporate organizations.as well as philanthropists to join hands with the present administration in its determination to ensure the development of sports in the country.

Responding, the Chairman MOC and Permanent Secretary overseeing the Federal Ministries of Youth and Sports Development Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar Thanked the Honourable Minister of Sports Development Senator John Owan Enoh and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in particular for the opportunity given to them to serve the country in this capacity.

He assured that members will bring their wealth of experience to bear in ensuring the successful hosting of the games in line with the policy thrust of the Federal Government.

Also in his remarks shortly after the inauguration ceremony, the Ogun state Commissioner of Sports, Mr Wasiu Isiaka, stated that the state was fully ready to ensure the successful hosting of the sports festival equal to none in recent times.

Members of the Main Organising Committee (MOC) inaugurated by the Honourable Minister are:
Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar, Permanent Secretary Overseeing the Federal Ministries of Youth and Sports Development – Chairman, Bukola Olapade, (Chairman LOC) as Vice Chairman. Other members of the Committee are Dr. Paul Onyeudo, Olufehinti Olusegun, Mohammed Manga, Gregory Zi, Ms Fadeke Fadeyibi, Engr. Abolore Alanamu, Patrick Okeke, Mrs. Amaka Ashiofu, Prof. Olawale Moronkola, Engr. Habu Gumel, Sunday Odebode, Emmanuel Utobo, Bamiduro Olumide, Brendan Ndifon, Adebayo Adeyinka, Amechi Akawo, Waziri Abubakar Mohammed, Mrs Thecla Opara (Member/Secretary) and Dr Kweku Tandoh

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Sports

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

Published

12 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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