Joel Ajayi

The newly elected President of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF), Musa Nimrod, has expressed delight over the successful conclusion of the maiden National School Volleyball Championship for Boys and Girls Under-15, held on Friday in Abuja.

Nimrod described the championship as a major milestone in grassroots talent discovery and a crucial step toward the long-term development of volleyball in Nigeria.

Speaking at the closing ceremony at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, the NVBF President commended the partnership between the federation and the Nigeria School Sport Federation (NSSF), stressing that the collaboration aligns perfectly with his administration’s vision of building a solid foundation for volleyball through schools and youth programs.

“Frankly speaking, I’m so happy and pleased, and I want to thank God. It’s an aspiration that has come to pass,” he said.
“We are looking forward to greater collaboration with the school sports system. Almost all of us played volleyball or one sport or another during our school days, and now we are back to support the next generation.”

According to him, the championship attracted over 300 young athletes from 17 states, signaling a renewed passion for volleyball among school-aged children.

He revealed that beginning next year, the NVBF will expand its youth categories to include Under-12, Under-15, Under-17, and Under-19 competitions — all of which will be integrated into the federation’s 2026 development program.

“This is the right way to go,” Nimrod said. “We will ensure that all age-grade categories such as Under-20, Under-19, Under-15, and Under-13 are properly developed. We already have volleyball academies across the country, and we will continue to support and register them to ensure proper data tracking and progress monitoring.”

He emphasized that this year’s championship marked only the beginning, promising that the second edition, scheduled for next year, would be even bigger and better organized.

Nimrod also highlighted volleyball’s unique structure, which allows institutional representation within its constitution — a feature that enables schools and organizations to play a direct role in the sport’s growth.

“We are proud that our federation recognizes institutions as members. We also plan to strengthen ties with university and polytechnic games such as NUGA, NASEGA, and NIPOGA to identify and nurture emerging talents,” he added.

On preparations for the International School Sport Federation (ISF) World School Volleyball Championship slated for Dec. 3–13 in China, Nimrod assured that the NVBF would fully support the NSSF in preparing Nigerian students for global participation.

“We will help prepare and keep the selected school athletes in camp ahead of the trip to China. The federation is committed to their success,” he stated.

He further disclosed that the NVBF will continue to provide soft volleyballs and other equipment to schools and academies, especially those focusing on younger players.

“We already have softballs designed for children, and we’ll continue distributing them to encourage early development,” he added.

In her remarks, NSSF President Olabisi Joseph expressed excitement over the successful hosting of the maiden national school volleyball event, describing it as a major step in discovering and nurturing young talents through the school system.

She revealed that standout players from the championship would be selected to represent Nigeria at the upcoming ISF World School Volleyball Championship in China.

“This is an exceptional opportunity for our children to showcase their talent, with scouts from all over the world in attendance. By God’s grace, Nigeria will be represented, and our students will make the nation proud,” she said.

Joseph commended the enthusiasm and dedication of the participating students, noting that many traveled long distances to take part in the historic event.

“Travel itself is a form of education and exposure. Beyond the games, our children have expanded their knowledge and social interactions. Sports stimulate learning — we are building total education and developing the total child,” she added.

She reaffirmed the NSSF’s commitment to continued collaboration with national sports federations to provide students with opportunities for both local and international development.

At the end of the championship, FCT I emerged champions in both the boys and girls categories. In the boys’ division, Kaduna State clinched silver while FCT II took bronze. In the girls’ division, FCT II won silver and Bayelsa State settled for bronze.

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