Sports

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

Published

11 months 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.

Share on Facebook

Sports

AACT 2026: 31 Days to Africa’s Big Sporting Gathering in Abuja

Published

20 hours ago

October 2, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The countdown to the 2026 All Africa Challenge Trophy (AACT) has officially entered the final month, with just 31 days to go before Africa’s leading women’s team golf championship tees off at the IBB International Golf & Country Club in Abuja.

In a statement signed by the AACT 2026Director of Communication Kayode Adeniyi on Friday in Abuja.

Under the theme “Africa Is Coming to Abuja,” the countdown campaign will spotlight the championship, the participating nations, the players, the host venue and the growing development of women’s golf across the continent.

The 2026 AACT, scheduled for November 2–7, will bring together women’s golfing talent from across Africa for six days of continental competition in Nigeria’s capital.

As preparations continue at the IBB International Golf & Country Club, attention is increasingly turning to Abuja, where the championship will provide a platform for African golfers to compete while also showcasing Nigeria’s hospitality and the country’s growing profile as a destination for major sporting events.

The countdown will feature daily stories, interviews, player and country profiles, tournament facts, behind-the-scenes updates and features on the host venue as the championship draws closer.

The campaign will also highlight the role of the Ladies Golf Association of Nigeria (LGAN), the Local Organising Committee and other stakeholders in preparing for the continental championship.

With just 31 days remaining, anticipation is building across the African golfing community as Abuja prepares to welcome the continent’s leading women golfers.

Africa is coming to Abuja.

Share on Facebook