Sports
Orbih Sparks Fresh Hope with Transformational Plan for Nigerian Badminton
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.
Sports
Nigeria Volleyball Reporters Congratulates Oguntimehin On Election As Fct Swan Chairman
The Nigeria Volleyball Reporters Association (NVRA) has congratulated Tolu Oguntimehin on his election as Chairman of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chapter.
NVRA described his emergence as an opportunity to strengthen sports journalism and advance the welfare of members.
Oguntimehin emerged victorious at the FCT SWAN elective congress held on Thursday, November 12, 2026, at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, defeating his challenger, Raphael Ekpang, by 88 votes to four.
In a congratulatory message, the Chairman of Nigeria Volleyball Reporters, Alhaji Ganiyu Oloyede described the election outcome as a testament to the confidence reposed in Oguntimehin by members of the association.
Oloyede expressed optimism that the new chairman would bring purposeful leadership, inclusiveness and renewed commitment to the development of sports journalism in the FCT.
He stressed that the responsibility of leading the association goes beyond occupying an office.
Oloyede noted that the new administration must prioritise members’ welfare, professional development, unity and the protection of their collective interests.
The NVR chairman also challenged the incoming leadership to create an enabling environment where sports journalists can thrive professionally, gain greater access to sporting events and contribute meaningfully to the growth of Nigerian sports.
He particularly welcomed Oguntimehin’s commitment to establishing a ₦200 million financial base for the association, describing the proposed initiative as an ambitious step towards building a financially stronger and more sustainable SWAN FCT.
Oloyede further emphasised the importance of collaboration among sports journalists, sports federations, government institutions and other stakeholders, maintaining that stronger partnerships would create more opportunities for members and improve the quality of sports reporting.
He urged the new executive to embrace transparency, accountability and open communication while ensuring that every member feels represented in the administration.
The Nigeria Volleyball Reporters reaffirmed its readiness to work with the new SWAN FCT leadership in promoting sports journalism, strengthening professional relationships and projecting Nigerian sports positively.
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