Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Malam Shehu Dikko, has challenged states to key in to sports of comparative strength, citing Abia State’s adoption of para-badminton as a benchmark.
Dikko was speaking today when he hosted the Abia State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Hon. Nwaobilor Ananaba, and the President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), Mr. Francis Orbih, who visited to brief him on preparations for the forthcoming para-badminton championships slated for Abia State.
The Director of Information and Public Relations, NSC, Dr. (Mrs.) Kehinde Ajayi, said in a press release that the first Abia Para-Badminton International Championships is slated for September 30 to October 5, 2025 while the All-African Para-Badminton Championships holds between 6th October 6-12.
He congratulated Abia State for boosting para-badminton over the years while developing the sporting facilities.
He said: “I must congratulate you on what Abia State is doing. We were together yesterday in a very beautiful and exciting event which broke the ceiling and set the path for others.
“That is a benchmark that we can tell other states to adopt. I had to visit the Governor recently to thank him and also to see how we can make sports better not just in the state alone but the country in general.”
He pledged his commission’s support for the international para-badminton championships.
“This clearly aligns with our vision to host as many international tournaments as possible,” he said, adding, “Whatever we can do to facilitate this, we will do. You can be rest assured of our support.”
The chairman highlighted the need for states to develop sports where they have comparative advantage.
He said, “We advocate that all states can adopt a particular sport like Abia, and keep promoting and investing in it. This will make our work easier. So, we will use this model to talk to other governors.”
The chairman also applauded Eniola Bolaji, a paralympian who featured in four international championships this year and won all.
While congratulating Bolaji for her achievement on the global stage, he said the NSC has signed off the athletes’ grants for the last quarter with Bolaji in category A on the list.
Speaking earlier, Ananaba said he was in the NSC to formally intimate the chairman on the hosting of two landmark sporting events in Abia State.
He stated that over the past decade, Abia State has invested in the development of para badminton as part of the state’s broader agenda of inclusion through sports.
On his part, the BFN’s Orbih presented Bolaji officially to the leadership of NSC, pointing out that 16 countries have indicated interest to participate in the international para badminton championships, and 15 countries for the African championships that will take place in Umuahia.
The highpoint of the visit was the presentation of the African Women Award in Sports to Eniola Bolaji by the the NSC chairman.
