President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), Francis Orbih has commended the Kaduna State Government and the First Lady of Abia State, Nkechi Ikpeazu for their support for Para Badminton in Nigeria.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the third Africa Para Badminton Workshop at the weekend, the BFN boss stated that the involvement of the Kaduna State Government and the First Lady of Abia State in Para Badminton has helped in developing the sport in the country.
He called on other well-meaning individuals, states and corporate entities to emulate these good gestures and support Para-badminton in the country. “The efforts of the Kaduna State Government under Governor Nasir El-Rufai and Mrs Ikpeazu in Para badminton are well documented and we really appreciate what they have been doing.
“I will use this medium to call on other well-meaning individuals, states and corporate organisation for more support as we cannot do it on our own,” Orbih added.
Orbih also challenged the participants to go back to their various states and zones to practice what they have learnt at the workshop which would help propagate the game all over the country.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Olusade Adesola also commended the BFN for the wonderful job they are doing in lifting the standard of the game in Nigeria. The NOC President Habu Gumel also applauded the BFN for organising the workshop as it will help raise the standard of para badminton in Nigeria.
Twenty countries took part in the workshop, which had tutors, players, coaches and other officials in attendance. The Closing Ceremony was preceded by friendly matches between players of the different para badminton classifications.
The countries are Algeria, Benin Republic, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Niger Republic, Uganda, Congo Democratic, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Kenya, Togo, Central African Republic, Botswana, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Egypt and Nigeria.
The instructors who were led by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) expert Anton Ivanov from Russia and BCA Development Manager Annirao Dajee from Mauritius rated the event very high and extolled the superlative qualities of the BFN President, who is doing everything possible to reposition the sport in the country and expose Nigerian players to top quality competitions all over the world.
Also in attendance at the closing ceremony were President of the Nigeria Shooting Federation Brigadier Gen. Adeoye Oladeyi rtd, a sizeable number of veteran players from Tobix Badminton Club Jahi led by the club’s chairman Sam Adingi.
Others were Alhaji Mohammed Maina, the Vice President of the BFN who was also the Chairman of the LOC of the event, Oby Solaja, Abel Ocholi Edicha, Isaac Ogbole all members of the Board of BFN and the immediate past Chairman of the Association of Badminton Clubs in Nigeria, ABCIN Alhaji Jibril Abubakar.