The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has pledged full media support for the upcoming African Women’s Club Volleyball Championship, set to take place in Abuja from April 1-14, 2025.

In a courtesy visit led by SWAN President Mr. Isaiah Benjamin, to the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), CG Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, at the Customs Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, discussions centered on fostering a productive working relationship to amplify the championship’s impact and promote volleyball’s growth in Nigeria.

The NCS volleyball team, Nigeria’s sole representative, is eager to improve on its fourth-place finish in 2021 and aims to leverage home advantage to make history as both hosts and potential champions.

The Nigeria Customs Service, as the sole sponsor of the event, has committed significant resources to ensure a world-class tournament, making it the first-ever African Women’s Club Volleyball Championship hosted in the region.

Speaking on behalf of the SWAN President, Secretary-General Ikenna Okonkwo praised the Customs Service for taking the bold step to bring Africa’s top club volleyball tournament to Nigeria.

“This is a historic moment for Nigerian sports. Hosting an event of this magnitude is a testament to the Nigeria Customs Service’s commitment to sports development. As the sporting media, we are proud to partner with Customs to ensure this championship gets the visibility it deserves, both locally and internationally,” Okonkwo stated.

FCT SWAN Chairman, Kelechi Onwudiwe, assured that the sporting press in the capital city would fully mobilise to give the event maximum coverage, working together with the SWAN National leadership.

“We are committed to delivering a viral championship, one that will showcase the passion and dedication of the Nigeria Customs Service and its Comptroller General. This partnership goes beyond the championship; it is a foundation for a stronger relationship between Customs and the sporting media,” Onwudiwe emphasised.

Responding, NCS Comptroller General CG Bashir Adewale Adeniyi (MFR) welcomed the collaboration, highlighting the vital role of the media in making the championship a success.

“We are not just hosting this championship; we are aiming to make history. With SWAN as a strategic media partner, we are confident that this event will leave a lasting impact. Beyond volleyball, we look forward to a sustained working relationship with the sporting media for the promotion of various sports under Customs,” the CG said.

With this landmark collaboration, SWAN and the Nigeria Customs Service are set to make the 2025 African Women’s Club Volleyball Championship a defining moment for Nigerian sports.

The SWAN delegation also included FCT SWAN Vice Chairman Victor Okoye, FCT SWAN Secretary Samuel Ahmadu, and FCT SWAN Welfare Officer Joan Iwuchukwu.

The Bayelsa State Commissioner for Sports Development, Dr Daniel Igali, has called on the National Sports Commission and the Main Organising Committee of the National Sports Festival in Ogun State to include traditional wrestling known as “Kuwa” and Canoeing as part of the events for the festival.

Honourable Daniel Igali made the call when he received Bayelsa athletes who represented Nigeria at the recently-concluded 13th ECOWAS African Wrestling Tournament at the Velodrome of the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja which was part of activities lined up to celebrate ECOWAS’ 50th anniversary.

Honourable Igali commended the Bayelsa athletes for yet again, making the country proud after Ebi Biogos 76K and Ebipadei Mughabofa 66K won gold each for Team Nigeria while combining with their teammates to win two silver medals in team events.

Igali, who heaped praises on Nigeria’s abundant talents in every sport called on the National Sports Commission being led by proven sports administrators, Shehu Dikko
and Bukola Olopade to consider including traditional wrestling and canoeing in the events to be competed for, at the Sports Festival coming up in Ogun State.

According to Igali, traditional wrestling is one of the local sports in the country and Africa that connects our cultural heritage. Thus, it deserves to be part of the events for the Nigerian version of the Olympic Games.

Also, the world and Olympic wrestling champion expressed shock at canoeing being excluded from the festival despite successively qualifying for the last two editions of the Olympics.

He described canoeing as one of the potential sports that can win Nigeria medals at the Olympics if properly encouraged and invested in.

While formally receiving the athletes Igali said “On behalf of the Bayelsa State Government, I receive you all with pride, celebrating what you have done. This shows clearly the focus of sports development in Bayelsa.”

“Arising from that, it is a bit of an irony that Nigeria has hosted the whole of West Africa in traditional wrestling, and we don’t have it at the next sports festival in Ogun State. My appeal to the National Sports Commission is that this is one cultural event that is relatable to virtually every culture and tribe in Nigeria,” Igali said.

“Let me also use this opportunity to mention another sport canoeing, this is one sport that Nigeria has a good opportunity to win a medal at the next Olympics if we plan very early. Over the pa8st Olympics, it has qualified athletes who have done very well and need to be encouraged by harnessing its potentials” Igali maintained.

Igali concluded by appreciating the Bayelsa State Government led by Senator Douye Diri for massively encouraging sports development through approval of funds to execute its programmes.

Meanwhile, the Director of Sports Bayelsa State Sports Council, Sir Braveman Wodi, who is the overseer and direct principal of the wrestlers, applauded them for representing the state and being good ambassadors of the Ijaw Nation.

Braveman noted that their triumph speaks volumes of the developmental policies of the Prosperity administration of Governor Douye Diri and his deputy Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo

The 13th edition of the ECOWAS African Wrestling Tournament co-hosted between ECOWAS and National Sports Commission ended at the Velodrome MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Saturday with panache. Scintillating, well-choreographed cultural displays and breathtaking traditional wrestling bouts highlighted the glitzy evening.

Senegal emerged overall winners with three gold and one silver while Nigeria (two gold and one silver) and Benin Republic (one silver, one bronze) finished second and third respectively.

Nigeria’s second-place was down to gold medals won by Ebipatei Lienbofa and Ebi Bigos in the women’s 66kg and 76kg respectively, a development which did not go unnoticed by the National Sports Commission Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko. While declaring the tournament closed, Mallam Dikko noted the fact that female athletes had contributed immensely to the nation’s past sporting exploits and had taken that trend to the ECOWAS African Wrestling Tournament.

He said, “Today is women’s day and we are proud as a Commission and, indeed the entire country, of the doggedness and resilience of our female wrestlers in this tournament. Over the years, the women have always come through for our sports in winning medals and have done the same at this tournament. We salute our sports women. Where could we have been without them.”

He emphasized that the performance of those female wrestlers is a clear testament to the Renewed Hope Agenda and shared prosperity vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR in sports.

The NSC Chairman further assured of a well sustained collaboration with all stakeholders in every aspect of sports adding particularly buttressing the preparedness of the National Sports Commission to synergize with the Ministry of Youth Development in engaging the youths positively through sports.

“Mr President has given us a clear directive that there should be proper collaboration within agencies of government which has to do with developing youths, culture, women and sports. We will put our energy together so as to get our youths productively engaged in sports, so that we can have that feel-good factor of doing sport and also staying healthy as well as earning revenues. You can see the money the people participating in the tournament are earning. We can really empower our youths through sports”, he pointed out.

He hinted that Saudi Arabia had expressed interest in investing in Nigeria’s sport, particularly its traditional sports, which according to him, underscores the essence of collaboration.

An elated Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande was thrilled with the abundance of sporting talents in the country and promised to continue to engage foster collaboration between his ministry and NSC to ensure that Nigerian youths realized their sporting potentials.

“I am so proud to associate with the Chairman of NSC, let me assure you that we are determined to work together in making sure that we provide a pathway for our youths through different sporting activities as well as our domestic sports competitions for the benefit of all”, he said.

In her remarks, Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs ECOWAS Commission, Professor Fatou Sow Sarr, represented by Amb. Francis Chuks Njoaguani, thanked Nigerian government for hosting the tournament and urged all participants to carry forward the values of unity, resilience, and excellence that they all celebrated in the three days impactful event.

The highpoint of the tournament was the award of medals, trophies and cash prizes. As the overall winners, Senegal smiled home with $10,000, followed by Nigeria with the sum of $6,000, while third-placed Benin pocketed $3,000.

The DG of NSC Hon Bukula Olapade in his closing remarks thanked all participanting countries and the LOC of the championship for a well-organized competition. He assured of NSC’s desire to continue to promote and host international tournaments in its drive to advance all sports in line with the objectives of the Renewed Hope Initiative for Nigerian Sports (RHINSE) framework.

Also present was former Senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District Sen. Shehu Sani.

FINAL RESULTS

A- TEAM CATEGORY
1. SÉNÉGAL
2. NIGÉRIA
3. BÉNIN
4. GUINÉE

B- WEIGHT CATEGORY

– 66KG (WOMEN)
1. EBIPATEI LIENBOFA ( NIGÉRIA)
2. SAFIETOU GOUDIABY (SÉNÉGAL)
3. BAKOYOKO CÉLINE JOSEE ( COTE D’ IVOIRE)
4. MARIAMA FOULA KABA ( GUINÉE)

– 76KG (WOMEN)
1. EBI BIGOS (NIGERIA)
2. YOUIN AMY (COTE D’ IVOIRE)
3. BODJRENOU ROSINE (BENIN)
4. KOUMBA DIOUMA SOW (GUINÉE)

– 86 KG (MEN)
1. SINY SEMBENE (SÉNÉGAL)
2. BONI ILIASSOU (BÉNIN)
3. MUSA ABDALAHI (NIGERIA)
4. LAGO GUY ALAIN

– 100KG (MEN)
1. GORA NIANG (SÉNÉGAL)
2. CAETANO ANTONIO (GUINÉE BISSAU)
3. BADARO ESSO (TOGO)
4. YACOUBOU SADATH (BENIN)

– 120 KG (MEN)
1. NGAGNE SENE (SÉNÉGAL)
2. GINO N’TCHALAH (GUINÉE BISSAU)
3. ISSAH FOUSSEINI (GHANA)
4. INOUSSA ISLAM DINE (BENIN)