Sports
Okon Secures Gold for Akwa Ibom, Eyes International Breakthrough
Joel Ajayi
Akwa Ibom State athlete, Hephzibah Okon has dedicated her gold medal race to the state governor and other Sports admistrators in the state
Okon won the gold medal in the 800 metres at the 2nd Niger Delta Games in Benin with the time of 2.18minutes.
“I am really happy to win this gold for Team Akwa Ibom. The support from our State Government, led by our amazing, Sports Loving Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, Honourable Commissioner and sports administrators has kept us motivated to give our best every day.
“This is why I’m dedicating the gold medal to the governor, Sports Commissioner and others involved with Sports in the State, she said.
The medalist has set her sights on representing Nigeria at senior-level competitions in the near future.
She has also earned an invitation to participate in the National Youth Festival alongside International Junior Athletes in 2025.
“I will continue to do my best to put Akwa Ibom State ìn̈ the World Sporting map”, she pledged.
Meanwhile, hosts Edo State leads on the medals table after events were completed on Day 2 on Sunday.
Edo won a total of 15 gold, 6 silver and is trailed by Delta with 9 gold 11 silver. Bayelsa is in third place with 8 gold and 2 silver.
The games, which began on February 20 with a spectacular opening ceremony event will end on the 26th. State contingents and games officials are to depart on February 27th.
The Niger Delta Games is organised by Dunamis-Icon Limited and sponsored by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
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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