Sports

Shettima Mohammed Shagir Pledges to Revitalize Shooting Sports, Deepen Grassroots Participation

Published

1 year ago

October 23, 2025

Joel Ajayi

Presidential aspirant for the Nigeria Shooting Federation (NSF), Shettima Mohammed Shagir, has vowed to transform the nation’s shooting sports through strategic reforms, grassroots inclusion, and a renewed commitment to professionalism and development.

Speaking while presenting his manifesto before the Electoral Committee of the National Sports Commission (NSC) on Thursday, Shagir pledged to align his vision with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for sports advancement in Nigeria.

He commended the NSC for introducing the manifesto presentation initiative, describing it as a major step toward transparency and accountability in sports leadership.“The idea of sharing our manifestos publicly is commendable. Anyone aspiring to lead should be able to clearly explain their plans and vision. It’s a good practice that promotes openness and should continue,” he said.

Driven by passion and purpose, Shagir said his ambition to lead the Shooting Federation stems from a desire to restructure the sport, create opportunities for young talents, and restore Nigeria’s competitiveness internationally.“My goal is to align with the Renewed Hope Agenda and drive the growth of shooting as a national sport. I want to use this platform to empower Nigerians, particularly at the grassroots level,” he stated.

Highlighting his plans, Shagir emphasized the importance of grassroots inclusion, public awareness, and community engagement to discover and nurture hidden talents across the country.“We must go to the grassroots — visit local communities, identify potential talents, and show people how sports can open doors of opportunity. Through the Federation, we will ensure everyone has a fair chance to participate,” he said.

Lamenting the lack of structured competitions and training programs in recent years, Shagir stressed the need for a comprehensive development framework that prioritizes athletes and builds a solid foundation for the sport.

“In the past four years, there has been no consistent training or competition structure. Once we put in place a sustainable development system, we’ll begin to uncover exceptional talents nationwide,” he noted.

He further proposed a membership and certification system to ensure proper registration, discipline, and safety among participants through recognized shooting clubs and associations.

“Our objective is to make shooting accessible, safe, and well-regulated. Participation will be open to all qualified individuals after due screening. Shooting teaches discipline, focus, and self-control — values we must promote,” he added.

Shagir reaffirmed his commitment to building a transparent, inclusive, and development-oriented Shooting Federation that will drive grassroots empowerment, uphold integrity, and position Nigeria as a leading force in shooting sports globally.

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Sports

AACT 2026: South Africa Lead as Nigeria Fifth After Day One

Published

8 hours ago

November 5, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The ongoing All Africa Challenge Trophy, AACT, currently ongoing in the IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja enters Day 2 today. At the end of Day 1, South Africa took an early lead with 154 strokes.

Kenya occupied second position with 158 strokes, while Tanzania placed third with 160 strokes after the opening round of the continental women’s golf championship.

Uganda finished fourth with 163 strokes, while Host Nigeria occupied fifth position with 166 strokes.

Zambia followed in sixth position with 167 strokes, ahead of Botswana, which returned 170 strokes to place seventh.

Ghana finished eighth with 172 strokes, while Zimbabwe and Tunisia occupied ninth and 10th positions with 174 and 176 strokes, respectively.

In the individual standings, South Africa’s Isabella Ferreira emerged as the Day One leader with four strokes over par (+4).

Ferreira, who expressed satisfaction with her opening-round performance, said she was encouraged by her start but remained focused on maintaining consistency.

“I’m happy with how I started the championship. The course demands concentration and patience, and I will continue to take each hole as it comes,” she said.

Kenya’s Kanana Muthomi followed closely in second position with five strokes over par (+5), while Uganda’s Keisha Kagoro occupied third position with six strokes over par (+6).

Kagoro said she was delighted with her start and determined to build on the performance.

“It is encouraging to begin the championship this way. I know the competition is strong, but I will stay focused, trust my game and work towards an even better performance,” she said.

South Africa’s Lourenda Steyn also returned six strokes over par to share third position with Kagoro.

Botswana’s Loapi Chokwe occupied fifth position with seven strokes over par (+7), while Tanzania’s Neema Olomi and Madina Iddy were tied on eight strokes over par (+8).

Kenya’s Bianca Ngecu and Kellie Gachaga returned nine strokes over par (+9) apiece.

Nigeria’s Juliana Ehinomhen finished among the leading 10 players, returning 10 strokes over par (+10) to occupy joint 10th position.

However, the Nigerian team will be seeking to improve its standing in the remaining rounds as competition intensifies among the participating countries. No fewer than 20 countries are participating in the championship, which features three rounds of 18 holes each, culminating in 54 holes.

It will be recalled that Nigeria’s First Lady and Grand Patron of AACT 2026, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, performed the ceremonial tee-off on Tuesday, November 3, signalling the commencement of the continental championship.

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