Sports

Sanwo-Olu to host Super Eagles to Send Forth dinner in Lagos on Tuesday

Published

2 years ago

January 8, 2024

Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu will be the chief host of a special dinner organized by the Lagos State Government for the Super Eagles on Tuesday night, hours before the three-time champions are set to depart for Cote d’Ivoire to participate in the 34^th Africa Cup of Nations finals starting this weekend.

Sports Development Minister, Senator John Owan Enoh will be the co-host of the glamour event, to which Governors Douye Diri (Bayelsa State), Seyi Makinde (Oyo State), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta State), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa State) and Godwin Obaseki (Edo State) have been invited.

President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau is the host, with top officials of the Lagos State Government, a couple of parliamentarians, NFF Executive Committee members, representatives of NFF’s corporate partners and sponsors, few members of NFF Management, Chairman and Board of the Lagos State Football Association, respected football investor Hon. Kunle Soname, former Nigeria captain Dr. Olusegun Odegbami, leading artistes, top celebrities and influencers also to attend.

Vintage guests are the 25 players selected for Nigeria’s onslaught for a fourth Africa Cup of Nations title, as well as their officials, who will all arrive in Lagos aboard a chartered aircraft on Tuesday evening.

NFF President Musa Gusau on Monday expressed the appreciation of the Football Federation to Governor Sanwo-Olu and his administration for their magnanimity.

“The NFF and the Nigeria Football fraternity are grateful to Governor Sanwo-Olu and his administration for agreeing to host the team at the Send Forth ceremony. It is an occasion to tell the players how much Nigerians will be supporting them at the Africa Cup of Nations Championship. The Honourable Minister of Sports Development will deliver a message from Mr. President. We believe that the event, anchored on the Let’s Do It Again theme, will galvanize the team to go for a fourth continental title in Cote d’Ivoire.”

The Nigeria contingent to the 34^th Africa Cup of Nations will depart Lagos on Wednesday morning for the 80-minute flight to Abidjan, where the team will compete in Group A against host nations Cote d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, and Guinea Bissau. The delegation will be led by the Chairman of the NFF Technical and Development Committee, Alhaji Sharif Rabiu Inuwa.

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Sports

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

Published

19 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.

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