National Sports Commission Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko was joined by Minister of Youth Development Ayodele Olawande at the the FirstLego League (FLL) National Robotics Championship 2025 organized with the support of the Federal Ministry of Education. at the indoor sports hall of the MKO Abiola National Stadium Abuja.

The sport showcases robot designs by students. This season’s theme ‘submerged’ challenged
participants to explore the depths of the ocean and create solutions for the challenges faced by professionals in underwater environments.

By engaging with this theme, students developed robot designs and projects that reflect the unique conditions of ocean exploration, fostering problem-solving skills and a deeper understanding of marine science and technology.

There were demonstrations as the organizers showcased the sport to NSC Chairman and Minister of Youth Development highlighting the scoring systems and the intellectual challenges for the contestants as well as the potentials outcome to their career!

Dikko said, “I have been told that only one country has made this sport (robotics) an official sport. We will work with the organizers so that Nigeria could become the second country if all the parameters are right as this would get our youths engaged and help us to create the sports economy. It falls within our vision of harnessing the numerous potentials inherent in our youths through sports.”

Yewande’s words, “I have always advocated that every youth should have more than one skill. When we have somebody like Mallam Shehu Dikko at NSC it is much easier to create these opportunities for our youths. We will keep collaborating to take our youths off the streets and get them meaningfully engaged.”

The championship which lasts from January 26 to 30 will feature displays and demonstrations of robot building and design, programming, computational thinking, project research, time management, and teamwork. During the competition, a panel of judges, composed of industry professionals, will assess and score the students based on standard rubrics, including the core values of the First LegoLeague and First Tech Challenge programs.

Winners will earn the opportunity to represent Nigeria at international competitions in America, Europe, Asia, and South America, continuing their learning journey and contributing to the global conversation on innovation.

The Nigeria Basketball Federation has released a comprehensive programme of activities for 2025, coming on the heels of its board meeting held earlier in January, 2025.

The programmes of basketball activities which was ratified by the board of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), led by its President Engr. Ahmadu Musa Kida, has been termed by stakeholders and enthusiasts as ‘Consolidation Time’.

Beginning from February 5-9, 2025, the Nigeria Senior Female Basketball team, D’Tigress are expected to feature in a friendly invitational tournament billed for Belarus; February 17-25, 2025, would see the D’Tigers participate in the 2025 FIBA AFRO Basket qualifiers taking place in Tripoli, Libya.

Activities for March, 2025, include the 1st Phase of NBBF Divisions 1&2 2024 season; Finals of NBBF Divisions 1&2 2024 season, as well as, the 1st Phase Women Zenith Bank league Division 1. Also, there would be the NBBF Annual General Meeting (AGM) and stakeholders Forum, to hold between February/March at a venue to be decided.

April 2025, begins with BAL Season 5, with Nigeria’s representatives Rivers Hoppers competing with other 11 teams in the championship holding respectively in Rabat, Morocco; Dakar, Senegal; Kigali, Rwanda and Pretoria, South Africa.

Also in April 2025, there would be refresher courses for Technical Officials, in Lagos and Abuja. The 1st Phase of NBBF Men Premier Basketball League would hold across the country; there also would be the 1st Phase of Zenith Bank Women Premier league in

two conferences.

Activities for May-June 2025, includes the 1st Phase U19 Girls National camps in Nigeria/USA, for the World championship; followed by the National U16 & U18 Boys and Girls championship; the NBBF Board Meeting would also hold during this period.

This period would also have the 2nd Phase of NBBF Men’s Premier Basketball League; 2nd Phase of Zenith Bank Premier Women league; as well as, national camp for U16 boys and girls, and FIBA Zone 3 U16 African Championship qualifiers (Boys & Girls).

Between July- August, 2025, D’Tigress would open camp in Nigeria/USA for the FIBA Women’s Afro Basket 2025; followed by the National U19 Girls;  And in July 25th – August 3rd, 2025, D’Tigress would be in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire to compete for the FIBA Women’s Afro Basket and Zenith Bank Women’s Premier league Conference finals would also hold.

FIBA Men’s Afrobasket 2025, also holds 12th-24th August in Luanda, Angola, there would be also, the NBBF Men’s Premier league Conference finals and the FIBA African U16 championship (Boys & Girls)

September, 2025, begins with finals of State preliminaries for Total National Division 2 championship; also in the month, there would be the NBBF Men’s Basketball League Final 8; Zenith Bank National Division 1, female national league eliminations.

In October 2025, the NBBF Board Meeting would hold and also the Zenith Bank Women’s Premier league finals. There shall be also the 1st Phase of BAL Qualifiers and FIBA Africa 3 AWBL Qualifiers.

November-December, 2025, begins with the Total National Divisions 1&2 league Divisional playoffs; knockout phase of the 2027 FIBA Men’s World Cup. And then in December, 2025, we shall have the Total National Division 2 Conference playoffs; Elite 16 BAL Qualifiers 2025; FIBA AWBL 2025 finals; Total National Division 1&2 league finals; the NBBF AGM and Awards Night and lastly, the NBBF Board Meeting.

• The 2025 President Beach Volleyball for Men and Women/Under 17 Boys and Girls will be holding from February 16 to 23.

This was gathered from a letter drafted by the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF), addressed to all Director of Sports/Clubs Chairmen/
General Managers/Military and Para-Military.

According to the letter signed by the Secretary-General of NVBF, Mrs. Aliyu-Abass Wasilat, dated January 29, 2025.

It informed that the President Beach Volleyball will be held at the prestigious Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna, Kaduna State (ABS), from
February 16 to 22.

It informed that February, 16 will be arrival date for participating teams, while the Technical Meeting/Competition Holds from 17th to 22nd.

According to the letter, participating teams are expected to depart on February, 23.

The latter added, “In view of the above, States, organizations and Clubs are encouraged to prepare for this upcoming event and their cooperation is highly solicited to ensure the success of
this competition.

“It is mandatory for each Team to come with an accompany referee per team for Male and Female and also be responsible for their logistics. Participating teams will be responsible for their accommodation.

“While thanking you for your usual cooperation, please accept the assurances and highest sporting regards of the NVBF President,” it said

The annual event is being sponsored by NVBF President, Engineer Musa Nimrod.