Sports

Sports Minister Visits Nigerian Breweries to Spearhead Private Investment Drive

Published

3 years ago

October 21, 2023

…Says Private sector can play a leading role in sports development

Joel Ajayi

In a move aimed at bolstering Nigeria’s sporting industry and ensuring the continued growth of various sports, the Honourable Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, paid a working visit to Nigerian Breweries Plc headquarters in Lagos on Friday, to discuss potential sports investment opportunities. The visit marks a significant step towards fostering collaboration between the government and the private sector to advance the nation’s sports landscape.

The Minister was warmly received by top executives at Nigerian Breweries, including the Managing Director, Mrs. Hans Essaadi.
Senator Enoh stated that the potential of sports in the country is enormous and the country needs to tap into the potential to upscale achievements and find more consistency in these achievements.

“This visit is to restore confidence, and to state that more than before, the Nigerian sports industry needs the private sector to be more involved,” the Minister said. “The new leadership at the Ministry is approaching its responsibilities with the determination to restore confidence and trust. This determination is fueled by passion to drive change in the Nigerian sports ecosystem.”

During the meeting, the Minister highlighted the ministry is open and excited to collaborate with the private sector to drive change. He said the Government plans to relate with the private sector a lot more closely and develop a framework that would help improve facilities, training, and grassroots development across various sports, including football, athletics, basketball, and others.

“There is a lot that Nigerian Breweries and other private investors can do to support and assist the impact that the sports can have on the fabric of our society,” he said. “Every involvement can be measurable. The Ministry is willing to collaborate and establish cordial working relationships with the private sector for the benefit of the nation.”

In his remarks, Mr. Essaadi emphasized the integral role that sports play in promoting a healthy and active nation, and the need for continued support and investment in various sporting disciplines. He stated that it is a powerful tool for national unity, as well as a social inclusion instrument.

Nigerian Breweries Plc has a rich history of supporting sports, most notably through its sponsorship of school sports and grassroots tourneys. The company’s contributions have not only bolstered the sporting sector but also created a platform for young talents to showcase their skills.

The Minister expressed optimism that its partnership with the organization would serve as a significant boost to the sports sector in Nigeria and provide the necessary support for emerging talent.

This visit by the Minister of Sports to Nigerian Breweries is indicative of the growing recognition of the importance of public-private partnerships in driving the growth and development of sports in Nigeria.

He stated that private investments such as Maltina School Sports, Milo Basketball tourney, Shell Cup, Pepsi U-13 championships, etc are known to have led to the discovery of lots of talents, who were placed on the national map.

The collaboration between the government and one of the country’s leading corporations bodes well for the future of sports, and it is expected to open up new opportunities for athletes, fans, and the sports industry as a whole.

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Sports

Plateau Vipers, Benue Queens Crowned Champions at HFN North Central Division One Tourney

Published

6 hours ago

October 3, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The President of the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN), Jibril Seidu, has said the federation will continue to intensify its grassroots talent development drive through zonal competitions across the country.

Seidu stated this on Saturday in Abuja at the finals of the 2026 North Central Division One Handball Championship, where Plateau Vipers defeated Suleja Shooters 29-24 to emerge champions in the men’s category.

In the women’s final, Benue Queens of Makurdi defeated City Queens of Suleja to claim the title.

The eight-day tournament featured teams from across the North Central Zone, with Plateau Vipers of Jos, Confluence Stars of Lokoja, Unity Boys of Abuja, Suleja Shooters and Nasarawa Ambassadors of Lafia competing in the men’s category.

In the women’s category, Nuela Handball Academy of Ilorin, Inikpi Babes of Idah, Benue Queens of Makurdi and City Queens of Suleja competed for honours.

At the end of the competition, four teams — two male and two female — emerged as the North Central Zone’s representatives for the national Division One league.

According to Seidu, the tournament was organised as part of the federation’s deliberate strategy to take handball development back to the regions and discover talents that might otherwise remain unnoticed.

He said the HFN board, inaugurated on October 25, 2025, resolved that grassroots development was essential to creating a sustainable pipeline of players for national and international competitions.

“All the teams you have seen here are from the North Central Zone of the country, and every state is represented with an academy or state team,” he said.

Seidu explained that the new approach marked a departure from the previous system, where talent identification was largely centred on the federation’s major league competitions.

He said taking competitions to the regions would provide young players with greater opportunities to showcase their abilities while strengthening the foundation of handball across the country.

The HFN president also linked the grassroots initiative to Nigeria’s recent achievements in international handball, stressing the need to develop younger players who can eventually replace members of the current national teams.

He noted that Nigeria had qualified for the 2027 Men’s Junior Handball World Championship in North Macedonia, describing the achievement as evidence of the potential within the country’s handball system.

“How do we replace these players with upcoming players? This is the avenue for us to get players,” he said.

Seidu added that the federation was determined to make handball more visible and accessible, describing it as one of Nigeria’s major sporting disciplines with significant potential for growth.

The North Central tournament is part of a wider zonal programme designed to decentralise handball development across Nigeria.

According to the federation, similar competitions are being organised across other zones, including the South East, North East, North West and South South, with qualifiers from each zone expected to converge at a designated venue for the next stage of the competition.

The federation also appealed for greater support from sponsors, stakeholders and state associations to sustain its grassroots development programme.

It expressed appreciation to the participating states, academies, team sponsors and other stakeholders for their support and commitment to the growth of handball in Nigeria.

The federation said the initiative would provide a platform for discovering the next generation of Nigerian handball stars while expanding the sport’s reach beyond its traditional centres.
While Speaking the elated coach of Benue Queen Godwin Tondo has promised a stronger and more tactical performance after guiding the team to victory at the 2026 North Central Division One Handball Championship in Abuja.
He attributed the success to the team’s long-term youth development programme, noting that the squad was built through a deliberate process of identifying and nurturing young talents.
According to him, the programme began with the selection of 92 girls from secondary schools, who were subsequently trained and developed over a four-year period.

He said the team’s success was a product of sustained hard work and commitment despite the challenges encountered during preparations for the tournament.

“I feel very pleased being a champion today. The road to this stage was very, very hard, but I am very happy that we have got the result from all the toughness of the game,” he said.

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