Nigeria Netball Federation board inaugurated
By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye
The National Sports Commission (NSC) has taken a significant step toward revitalizing netball in Nigeria with the official inauguration of the board of the Nigeria Netball Federation.
This inauguration by the National Sports Commission marks what stakeholders describe as a long-overdue moment of structure and legitimacy for the sport.
At the inauguration ceremony held Tuesday in Abuja, NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko expressed optimism about the future of netball, highlighting its untapped potential to elevate young Nigerian athletes onto the global stage.
"The potential of this sport is huge and I have no doubt that with the calibre of personalities I am seeing on this board, Nigeria has what it takes to be very competitive at the global stage in no distant time," Dikko said.
He further praised the federation’s organizational framework, adding, "I am even happier to see that this board has set a new benchmark in terms of governance structure, coming up with a clear constitution and a five-year strategic plan, and it is highly commendable."
Echoing similar sentiments, NSC Director General Bukola Olopade described the inauguration as a landmark moment, underscoring netball’s potential to become one of Nigeria’s medal-winning sports.
"These are exciting times for Nigerian sports and all of these are made possible because of the backing Mr President is giving to the sports sector, which is why today Netball is finally a Federation in Nigeria," Olopade stated.
He also pointed to the wealth of talent available to the country, noting, "We have a large chunk of quality Netball players abroad who have shown keen interest to represent the country and today, we are on the right path by establishing a Federation that can compete strongly with any other Federation in the country."
Olopade commended the board’s inclusivity, emphasizing the strong representation of women. "I must also emphasize that aside from the top quality of people on the board, my biggest excitement is the level of inclusivity that we are seeing on the board. A large number of those on the board are women and it is very gratifying to see."
Leading the new era for the sport, NNF President Esther Oluwatoyin Aluko expressed appreciation to the NSC leadership for reigniting hope in a sport that had struggled for decades without formal structure.
She outlined the federation’s strategic direction, revealing an ambitious roadmap aimed at long-term success.
"The NFF's governing structure is built around 14 specialized commissions with every commission assigned with a specific pillar of plan - a named quarterly KPI obligations and direct accountability to the board," she said.
Looking ahead, Aluko set a bold target for infrastructure development and international competitiveness.
"With this by 2029, we would have delivered a fully commissioned National netball complex and four internationally compliant courts capable of hosting world and continental competitions on Nigerian soil."
The inauguration signals a fresh start for netball in Nigeria, with stakeholders hopeful that the new structure will not only nurture grassroots talent but also position the country as a formidable force ahead of the 2030 Commonwealth Games.
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