President of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF), Engineer Musa Nimrod, has emphasised the importance of providing greater international exposure for Nigeria’s young volleyball talents, saying regular participation in major competitions remains crucial to the sport’s growth and the country’s Olympic aspirations.
Speaking during the ongoing 2026 Division 1 and 2 Volleyball League at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Indoor Hall in Abuja, Nimrod said Nigeria’s recent performances at continental events demonstrate that the federation’s grassroots and youth development programmes are beginning to yield positive results.
According to him, emerging players such as Pamela and Esther have shown immense potential by competing against some of Africa’s strongest teams and reaching major finals at youth level.
“These small young girls that we developed, Pamela and Esther, reached the final against Egypt again. We have continued to compete at the highest levels in Africa, and these are signs that the development programmes are yielding results,” Nimrod said.
He noted that the duo were part of a Nigerian team that reached the final against Egypt after previously facing the North African side at the African Youth Games in Angola.
For the federation president, such achievements underline Nigeria’s growing strength in volleyball and the importance of creating more opportunities for players to gain international experience.
Nimrod explained that participation in global and continental competitions plays a critical role in athlete development, helping players improve their technical abilities, confidence and competitiveness.
“Exposure is very important. When athletes compete regularly against top opponents, they develop faster and gain the experience needed to perform at higher levels,” he said.
The veteran sports administrator also highlighted beach volleyball as a key avenue for Nigeria’s international ambitions, particularly in the quest to secure qualification for future Olympic Games.
He revealed that Nigerian teams have come close to earning Olympic tickets on several occasions, narrowly missing out despite finishing among Africa’s top contenders.
“We have been crying for that one slot. We have come second in Africa and narrowly missed qualifying for the Olympics. More international competitions would help our athletes gain the experience needed to cross that final hurdle,” he said.
According to Nimrod, beach volleyball remains one of the most accessible and cost-effective sports, requiring only two athletes per team while offering significant opportunities for international participation.
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He stressed that sustained investment in athlete development, combined with increased opportunities to compete on the world stage, will be essential if Nigeria is to achieve its long-term objective of becoming a major force in global volleyball.
With the federation continuing to expand its development programmes and international engagements, Nimrod expressed optimism that the next generation of Nigerian volleyball players can build on recent successes and compete consistently with the best teams in Africa and beyond.
For the NVBF president, the priority remains creating pathways that will allow talented athletes to fulfil their potential while bringing Nigeria closer to its dream of qualifying for future Olympic Games.
