One of Nigeria’s leading sports for change NGO, CSED (Community Sport and Educational Development) Initiative recently, (26 and 27 February 2025) held a two-day seminar on netball for P.E. Teachers in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. 

The training held in collaboration with the Airforce Secondary School, Airforce Base Rumuomasi, Port-Harcourt, was held at the school premises.

This training is part of “Project 2027,” which is CSED Initiative quest to provide Nigerian school children and youths access to learn and play the game of netball in a safe space. Netball is the only sport in the world that is specifically designed for girls and women.

CSED Initiative, sees the game of netball as an important tool that could be used to promote the general health and well-being of the girl child, as well as empower them to blend sport with their academic pursuit.

However, in line with Netball World goal of promoting the inclusivity of the game, two secondary schools in Nigeria, Tare Pet School Yenagoa and C.S.C.S. Itam, currently have boys’ netball teams, alongside their female netball team.

35 participants from various secondary schools including the Nigeria Navy secondary, Army Day Secondary School, private and public secondary schools, in the city, as well as, two Cameroonian refugees who represented the Cameroonian community that are based in Adagom 3, Camp in Ogoja local government area.

The training was facilitated by coaches Edema Fuludu, Funsho Ekundayo and Onome Fuludu. These coaches were supported by Deborah Bakari (a University of Benin Student) who has been playing netball in the past four years in Uhoghua (Benin City).

Some volunteers like Gold Dappa-Wogu, also benefited from this free netball training that uses a training manual that was developed by Ambassador Mary Waya (a Netball Africa certified instructor). The trained netball coaches were provided with free T-shirts that were donated by Lord’s Taverners (a UK based charity).

The newly trained coaches were first taught the importance of safeguarding and safety in the sports environment which was covered by coach Onome Fuludu, a graduate of Guidance and Counselling, who is also a qualified safeguarding practitioner. His presentation focused on the importance of sporting and educational authorities ensuring that students and athletes are supported to take part in sports in a safe environment.

The new netball coaches were also provided with additional access to free online safeguarding training. This was followed by the basics of the game, netball rules, applications of the rules, how to mark a netball court, the different netball positions, as well as the roles that are attached to these positions.

Warming-up, passing the ball, throwing the ball, the restriction of the movement of players in certain parts of the netball court, practicing of how to throw the ball and how to score were also covered. This was then followed by a practice game between the new coaches who were divided into team blue and team purple.

The Commandant of the Airforce Secondary School, Port Harcourt, Wing Commander Nasir Adamu, who was instrumental in bringing CSED Initiative to Port Harcourt, stated that he was very pleased to see an NGO, who has passion for carrying out developmental and empowerment programmes that are targeted at the girl child.

He urged the participants to take advantage of the training and become reliable coaches in a sport that is being revived in Nigeria. He also stated that he will visit the schools to monitor progress and use of the freely donated netball starter packs (a pair of netball rims/nets, finger held whistles, two sets of netball training bibs, and netball balls) to the representatives of the participating schools.

CSED National Coordinator, Edema Fuludu, used the opportunity to inform participants that the game will soon become a National Sports Festival event and urged them to be serious and as enthusiastic, as they have exhibited during the two days training event. The new netball coaches take the number of trained netball coaches under “Project 2027” by CSED Initiative to 411.

 

Basking on their stellar performance at the recently held southwest zonal eliminations for team sports for the National Sports Festival, Lagos State handball players have vowed to replicate this performance in the Gateway Games 2024.

Lagos State won the tickets in both the male and female handball at the tournament, which was held in Ibadan, Oyo State

After securing their qualification, Lagos women’s handball team captain, Oyewusi Olubisi, said it is a long journey as the team remains united while setting their sight to winning gold at the Games proper in Ogun State. She attributed the success story to the support from the leadership of the sports commission for the improved welfare and hospitality.

Olubisi also lauded the technical crew’s role in ensuring a 100 percent win during the Zonal Elimination against four other states in the region.

Another handball player, Jimaza Tabitha, noted that the team really played out its best with the mentality of coasting home to victory, stating that togetherness, commitment and rigorous training contributed to their triumph in playing all three matches without losing anyone.

Tabitha said: “The government of Lagos state motivated us very well. So, that’s why we are here to put in our best and come out victorious.”

The Chairperson of Lagos State Handball Association, Adeola Opeifa, highlighted that the triumph of the team, both men and women, stems from the early preparations, from camping and providing necessary things in place to ensure their success at the Zonal elimination.

Meanwhile, the 22nd National Sports Festival South-West Zonal Elimination Ball Games was concluded in Ibadan, Oyo State, with Team Lagos emerging victorious in various sports.

Team Lagos secured an impressive 13 slots for the Gateway Games, which will be held in Abeokuta, Ogun State, in May 2025.

According to the official results, Lagos clinched tickets in Basketball (male and female), Handball (male and female), Hockey (male and female), Cricket (male and female), and Football (male and female).

Other team sports that also made it to the Gateway Games are beach volleyball (male), volleyball (female), and Abula (mixed doubles).

Lagos’ compelling performances at the Southwest Zonal Elimination were a direct result of the state government’s commitment to grassroots sports development, providing a platform for talents to thrive and inspiring a new generation of athletes.

    Kenya Harrison Muchira Wanjiru on Saturday won the ECOWAS Abuja International Marathon half-marathon in 1 hour 04.39, on his heels was another Kenyan Adam Sulaiman Muhamad who was second 1.05.27, a Nigerian Francis James Musa came third in 1.05 51. If Kenyans dominated the men’s race, the women’s race was dominated by Ethiopians. Lydia Natiyaka Wamalawa of Ethiopia won the women’s race in 1 hour 15.3, Aberash Minsewo, another Ethiopian, was second in 1.17.14, and like in the men’s race, a Nigerian Patience Dalyop was third in 1.21.15. Nigerian runners dominated the 5 km race, they also won most of the prizes reserved for ECOWAS citizens. Each one for his reason, thousands of runners pounded the streets of Abuja on Saturday as the 2025 ECOWAS Abuja International Marathon flags off at the ECOWAS Commission Yakubu Gowon Way, a little after 8.00 am, while the 5 km race started shortly after. For the elite runners that participated in the 21 kilometer race of Africa’s most lucrative half-marathon, the focus was on the $ 10,000 prize money for the top finisher. Ditto for the top runners in the 5km race whose sights were also fixed on the prize money for the top five finishers. For former presidential aspirant Omoyele Sowore, a constant face in marathons and road races in Nigeria, America and other parts of the world, the ECOWAS Abuja International Marathon, was another medium to carry his message of justice for humanity to every part of the world. Sowore did not run alone, he ran with the #Run with Sowore Group and other members of his Lazy Man Athletics Club. But for majority of the runners are like Blessing Mozie, they participated because running has become a way of life. A staff member of the Down Syndrome Foundation of Nigeria, she ran on Saturday, because running has become a part and parcel of Lagos-born Mozie’s life. Before moving to Abuja, Mozie has participated in several editions of the Lagos City Marathon, running the full marathon, but she ran the 5 km on Saturday because she is not used to the Abuja roads, ”I was born in Lagos, I grew up there, so I am familiar with the route, but I am not too familiar with the Abuja routes, maybe in future I will run the half marathon and the full marathon in Abuja. “I think running is something everybody should do because of its immense health benefits. “For me running is not a fashion statement but a way of life because it is good for the body generally and I am encouraging everybody to embrace the culture of running, the benefits are immeasurable’’. An estimated 5,000 Nigerian and international runners battled for $71,000 prize money on Saturday. The men’s and women’s winners of the 21 km half-marathon race won $10,000. Also, all the first 200 runners to cross the line received bronze medals to show they participated. The Chairman of the Main Organizing Committee and ECOWAS Director of Youth and Sports, Amb. Francis Njoaguani noted that the event was part of activities to commemorate ECOWAS at 50. Njoaguani stated that the initiative is aimed at encouraging regional participation and celebrating homegrown talent. He noted that the future goal is to achieve the World Athletics Gold Label status within the next four years, positioning the ECOWAS Abuja International Marathon among the most prestigious road races globally.