The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC) Bukola Olopade,has held a meeting with various sports federations in Nigeria to discuss the challenges each sport faces and to formulate a more effective strategy for the year 2026 and beyond.
The high-level discussions on Friday aimed to improve Nigeria’s representation in international competitions and to evaluate the successes and challenges of the past year, with a focus on enhancing strategies for 2026 especially in the area of funding.
Presidents from different federations participated in the meeting, where they had the opportunity to share the difficulties their organizations are encountering.
President of the Nigerian Handball Federation Jibril Saidu, noted that his federation has already started implementing policies aligned with the NSC’s guidance.
He mentioned that they are working on grassroots initiatives, with zonal representatives taking charge of the sport.
He stated, “We are ready to progress, and our national tournament will be based on the results from the zones.” Players will be selected from these zones after evaluations to prepare them for higher-level championships representing Nigeria.
Saidu pointed out that funding has been a major challenge for handball over the years, while also acknowledging the federal government’s current efforts to address this issue.
Also speaking in an interview with reporters, the President of Nigeria’s Table Tennis Federation Dr. Adesiji Tayo, reaffirmed their commitment to continue their progress, indicating plans to replace older players with younger talent for better performance. He emphasised Nigeria’s goal to rank among the top two countries in Africa this year.
Dr Abdul Ibrahim President of the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation, described the meeting as timely, highlighting the necessity for collaboration to address challenges, especially regarding funding.
He believes the director general has effective strategies for generating funds for the weightlifting federation and stressed the importance of early training and preparation for success in competitions.
Rafiu Salami, a national team coach for Nigeria’s Handball Federation, expressed confidence in the national players’ ability to achieve victories in their group.
He acknowledged the challenge of facing Egypt in the quarter-finals if they finish second in their group, stating, “We will do everything possible to secure a spot for the World Cup.”
He was optimistic that if Nigeria performed well in their group matches, they would face the Algerian team next.
