Sports

Orbih Sparks Fresh Hope with Transformational Plan for Nigerian Badminton

Published

2 days ago

May 13, 2026

Joel Ajayi

A fresh era appears to be emerging for Nigerian badminton as President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), Francis Orbih, unveiled an ambitious long-term development plan centred on grassroots expansion, coaches’ training, and umpire advancement.

Orbih announced the vision on Wednesday during the opening ceremony of the federation’s two-day retreat at ANOCA House in Abuja, where board members, technical experts, and stakeholders gathered to map out a fresh direction for the sport with the theme: “Repositioning Badminton For Sustainable Growth.”

He said the federation was determined to build a sustainable structure capable of delivering measurable results within the next two to three years.

“In the next two to three years, Nigerians will begin to see the result of what we are doing. When you fail to plan, you plan to fail,” Orbih said.

According to him, the retreat was organised to ensure the federation operates with a clear roadmap rather than short-term decisions.

Orbih stressed that the BFN would pursue intentional goals throughout its tenure instead of allowing another four-year cycle to pass without impact.

“We are not just going to vote, announce results and allow four years to pass by. We want to be deliberate about what we want to achieve,” he stated.

He identified grassroots expansion as the foundation of the federation’s new agenda, revealing plans to take badminton into schools and local communities across the country.

“Grassroots and schools are very important to us, and we are going there. We also want to develop our coaches and umpires because they are critical to the future of the game,” he added.

Orbih also pointed to the federation’s growing international recognition, recalling that a Nigerian umpire officiated at the World Junior Championships in India last year — a first for the country.

He said the next target was to secure more international opportunities for Nigerian technical officials and administrators within African and global badminton bodies.

“We want more Nigerians to lead African badminton institutions and contribute globally when opportunities come. That preparation must start now,” he said.

Also speaking at the event, Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, said Nigerian sports was entering a new era driven by strategic planning, data, and performance-based targets.

Dikko explained that sports federations were now expected to submit clear development plans to the commission, replacing the old system of arbitrary expectations.

He disclosed that based on projections from federations, Nigeria is targeting between 18 and 22 gold medals at the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

Dikko also praised the leadership of the Badminton Federation, describing the sport as one of Nigeria’s medal prospects, while citing the success of para-badminton star Eniola Bolaji as evidence of what strategic investment can achieve.

Share on Facebook

Sports

Badminton Federation of Nigeria Targets Grassroots Growth, Coaches’ Capacity Building

Published

12 hours ago

May 14, 2026

The Gleamer

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.

Share on Facebook