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Badminton

Badminton Will No Longer Be Lesser-Known Sport in Nigeria, Says Orbih

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The president of Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), Francis Orbih has once again declared his intention of moving badminton from the realm of ‘lesser-known’ sport to a popular one in the country.

He informed the Sports Village Square that the resolve to improve the popularity of the sport necessitated his board’s current visits to stakeholders in the different sports zones of the country to assess the level of development and to find tailor-made solutions to challenges being faced by each zone.

“It is the intention of this board to get more corporate and private involvement in badminton, hence our resolve to embark on aggressive marketing to secure sponsorship for both national and international competitions”, Orbih remarked.

Last week, his entourage which included the vice president of BFN, Alhaji Mohammed Maina and the chairman of technical and grassroots development subcommittee of the BFN, Gabriel Gbayan visited the North Central Zone where in Katsina a courtesy call was made to the Emir of Katsina, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Abdulmumini Kabir Usman.

According to Orbih, the team was accorded a wonderful reception as the Emir appreciated the board’s efforts and encouraged it to work hard on taking the game to the grassroots especially schools.

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While in Katsina, Orbih and his team visited facilities both owned by government and private organizations as well as individuals.

The badminton chief commended Alhaji Malik Anas for his efforts in promoting badminton by his establishing of the Golden Star Badminton Club. Orbih compared the club with the various badminton academies in countries with strong passion and strength in badminton. He called on other well to do individuals to invest in badminton.

Orbih and his group also visited the Katsina State Ministry of Sport and Social Development where the Permanent Secretary and the Director of Sports of the ministry both received them.

The Permanent Secretary was particularly thrilled as it was the first time a sport federation president was visiting the Katsina State officially.

The visit by the BFN is already yielding fruits as the Golden Star Badminton Club has agreed to host and sponsor a senior national badminton championship in November.

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Similar visit is expected by the president and his team to other states such as Kaduna, Niger, Kwara, Lagos, Benue, Rivers, Bauchi, Delta as well as FCT among others all in an effort to create more awareness on plans and programmes the board of the federation has for the game.

 

 

 

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Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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Badminton

It’s Nigeria again as Eniola Bolaji wins the 2024 Africa Women in Badminton Award

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For the second time, a Nigerian has been named the recipient of the Africa Women in Badminton Award (AWIBA), as Paralympic bronze medallist Eniola Bolaji is the 2024 winner.

Before then, another Nigerian, Obiageli Solaja, won the 2019 edition, making the country the first to win twice and underlining the growth of badminton in the country.

The award is in recognition of outstanding achievements in badminton. For Bolaji, it is for her outstanding achievements and inspiring journey in para-badminton

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The prestigious award was presented during the Badminton Confederation Africa (BCA) Annual General Meeting held on Thursday in China.

Receiving the award on her behalf, President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), Francis Orbih, described the recognition as timely and well-deserved.

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He commended Bolaji’s dedication and trailblazing accomplishments, noting her impact on the growth of para-badminton in Africa.

“I am extremely proud of Eniola Bolaji. This award reflects the BCA’s recognition of her remarkable progress,” Orbih said.

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“As the first African to win a medal in badminton or para-badminton at the Olympics or Paralympics, I believe she is only just beginning to make her mark on the global stage.

“This award will not only motivate Eniola but also inspire a new generation of Nigerian and African para-badminton players. It shows that their efforts are being noticed and celebrated.”

Orbih also extended his appreciation to the new leadership of the National Sports Commission, led by Shehu Dikko, for the way they have continuously demonstrated that there is a breath of fresh air in sports in Nigeria.

Looking ahead, Orbih highlighted Nigeria’s readiness to host two international para-badminton championships in Abia State this September/October.

“We are looking forward to delivering world-class events. This is an exciting moment for Nigerian badminton, and we intend to set a new benchmark,” he added.

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Previous AWIBA Winners:

              •            2018 – Gretha Prinsloo (South Africa)

              •            2019 – Obiageli Solaja (Nigeria)

              •            2020 – Hadia Hosny (Egypt)

              •            2021 – Lynn Du Preez (Namibia)

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              •            2022 – Awatef Ghalloussi (Tunisia)

              •            2023 – Harriet Semugabi (Uganda)

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Badminton

He is one of our own, Badminton Chief, Orbih hails Kida’s headship of NNPC

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Francis Orbih, president of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria, BFN,  has remarked that he was very excited at the appointment of Musa Kida as the chairman of Nigeria’s state-owned oil company,.

In a release, the BFN heartily congratulated Kida, who also heads the Nigeria Basketball Federation, the NBBF.

“This appointment is a testament to your exemplary leadership, dedication, and vast experience in both the corporate and sports sectors”, Orbih remarked in a letter to Kida.

” Your commitment to excellence has been evident in your contributions to Nigerian basketball, and we have no doubt that you will bring the same level of passion, integrity, and vision to this critical national assignment.

“As you take on this new role, the Badminton Federation of Nigeria wishes you great success in steering NNPCL towards greater achievements for the benefit of our nation. We look forward to continued collaboration in the advancement of sports and national development. Once again, congratulations!”

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Eniola Bolaji remains a golden girl!

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World number 2 player in Para badminton, Eniola Bolaji has solidified her dominance in para-badminton SL3 by winning her second gold medal in two weeks.

This time, she set an African record as the Paralympic bronze medallist triumphed over Turkey’s Halime Yildiz 2-0 (21-7, 21-10) in the women’s final at the Spanish Para Badminton International 2025 in Toledo, Spain, on Sunday.

She began her campaign by defeating India’s Sanjana Kumari 2-0 (21-15, 21-8) in the second round, followed by a 2-0 (21-9, 21-12) win over Turkey’s Halime Yildiz in the third round.

The multiple-time African champion then dispatched Ukraine’s Oksana Kozyba 2-0 (21-16, 21-4) in the semifinal.

An elated President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria, Francis Orbih praised Eniola Bolaji’s resilience and continued record-breaking achievements in para-badminton.

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He highlighted her status as the only African player to win 12 gold medals in all internationals played.

Orbih said, “I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Eniola Bolaji on her incredible achievement of winning her 12th gold medal in as many international tournaments.

“This remarkable feat is a testament to her consistency, resilience, and unwavering dedication to excellence.”

He continued, “Bolaji has not only made Nigeria proud but has also firmly stamped her authority in the world of para-badminton. Her journey continues to inspire many, and we at the Badminton Federation of Nigeria remain committed to supporting her as she reaches even greater heights.”

The Nigeria badminton supremo also expressed excitement about the upcoming All African Para Badminton/Abia international Para badminton Championships this year, which will provide an opportunity to showcase the country’s rich badminton culture. We thank Abia state government for accepting to host these two historic events.

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He said, “It gives me joy that the giants of Africa in Para badminton will be hosting an international championship and the African championship in Nigeria. It will give us an avenue to further expose other potential champions to the world.”

Recall that Eniola Bolaji won a gold medal at the 2025 Spanish Para-Badminton International II in Vitoria last week.

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