The Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF) in partnership with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has officially kicked off the first phase of the 2026 National Premier Volleyball League at the Indoor Sports Hall, of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
The association unveiled a ₦26 million funding package for participating teams and players, as the new season launches a nationwide talent hunt aimed at discovering fresh volleyball prospects and strengthening Nigeria’s national teams.
The 2026 edition marks another milestone in the federation’s drive to strengthen domestic volleyball under the leadership of NVBF President Musa Nimrod.
Since assuming office, the federation has consistently organized national league competitions, with the current administration successfully staging 10 editions of the National Premier Volleyball Leaguez as part of its long-term commitment to sustainable volleyball development across Nigeria.
The competition brings together Nigeria’s leading male and female volleyball clubs competing in the country’s top-flight division and remains the flagship domestic volleyball championship for talent identification, athlete development and the promotion of excellence in the sport.
Speaking to journalists at the opening event on Monday, NVBF 2nd Vice President and Chairman of the League Management Committee (LMC), Adamu Adamu, praised the Nigeria Customs Service for its consistent support and described the Premier League as the apex of domestic volleyball in Nigeria.
“First and foremost, I want to thank the comptroller-general of customs for giving us the opportunity to stage this league again.
“The Premier League is the prime of all our leagues and it is where we display the quality of volleyball we have in the country,” Adamu said.
He noted that the competition provides a platform for both locally-based and internationally-based players to showcase their talents while opening pathways for emerging athletes to break into the national teams.
According to him, the standard of competition has improved significantly over the years, with newly promoted teams now strongly challenging established Premier League sides.
“From the first matches we have seen, the promoted teams are already giving the existing Premier League teams a very tough time.
“That shows the level of improvement we have achieved over the years. This is going to be a very competitive league and fans will discover many new players with great potential to play for the national team,” he added.
Adamu also acknowledged the challenges facing sports administration, particularly funding constraints and a congested sporting calendar, but stressed that the federation remained focused on delivering its development objectives.
“The year has been very tough for us because funding sports in the country is not easy. However, we see these challenges as opportunities to overcome.
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“We have just concluded the Division One and Division Two leagues and now we are staging the Premier League. After this, we will focus on hosting an international beach volleyball competition in Badagry in July,” he said.
Also speaking, Chairman of the Control Committee, Stephen Aso, highlighted the increasing competitiveness of the league, noting that matches are now more closely contested than in previous seasons.
“The teams here are ready to win. There are no easy matches anymore. Most games now end 3-1 or 3-2, which shows how competitive the league has become,” Aso stated.
He commended the Nigeria Customs Service for consistently supporting the championship over the past three editions and disclosed that the federation is actively seeking additional corporate sponsorship to complement the customs contributions and sustain the growth of volleyball in Nigeria.
