Badminton
BADMINTON BECOMES A SUBJECT OF STUDY AT UNIVERSITY OF PORT HARCOURT
Badminton in Nigeria gets a boost as the controlling body; the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) has successfully made Olymafrica to include the sport in the curriculum of its University of Port Harcourt study centre.
Olympafrica is a sporting organisation established by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to cater for the sporting and educational development of youths in Africa. It has its Headquarters in Dakar, Senegal and the Centre at the University of Port Harcourt is one of its affiliates.
In a letter dated 6th December 2019, the BFN wrote to appeal and make a case for the inclusion of badminton as one of the sports in the Centre’s curriculum.
The Federation’s appeal was hinged on the fact that the centre has been the camping venue for the senior national badminton team during its preparations for recent continental engagements where the team performed very well.
The Federation was of the belief that the formal inclusion of the sport in the centre’s curriculum will greatly enhance its growth and development in the country.
According to BFN President, Francis Orbih, “It was therefore with great pleasure and appreciation that the Federation received the approval of the Olympafrica University of Port Harcourt Centre Board in a letter dated 28th May, 2020 signed by Dr. C.E. Agi.
“The approval read in part; “It gives me great joy to inform you Sir that the Olympafrica Center of the University of Port Harcourt has been given permission by the Board of the Sports Institute to start a Badminton Academy.”
Continuing, Orbih remarked that : “The larger implication of this development portends a great improvement in the growth of the game in Nigeria.
“The centre currently has a total number of six sports officially in its curriculum. Badminton therefore comes as the seventh. The inclusion will be in line with one of the key agenda of the present BFN Board, which is grassroots development.
Francis Orbih who was ecstatic on receiving the Olympafrica approval further remarked: “ “This is one of the numerous achievements of the current BFN Board that has grassroots development of badminton as one of its main goals.
“Having a standard badminton academy in a standard sporting facility like the Olympafrica Uniport centre will be a major boost for the growth and development of badminton in Nigeria”.
He said the federation will take advantage of this development in it’s quest for repositioning badminton for sustainable growth.
The Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) has continued its nationwide grassroots development drive with a two-day outreach training held in Yola, the Adamawa State capital.
Organised in collaboration with the Adamawa State Sports Council, the State Ministry of Education, and the Nigeria School Sport Federation (NSSF), Adamawa chapter, the training took place on 24 and 25 September 2025 at the General Murtala Mohammed College hall.
A total of 20 Physical Education teachers and 80 secondary school students from the Yola area participated in the intensive programme, which aimed to introduce badminton to schools and promote the sport at the grassroots level.
The training was facilitated by a team of five coaches led by George Shitta, who also serves as the Director of Sports at the Taraba State Sports Commission. Participants were taken through the fundamentals of badminton, including grip techniques, footwork, serving, stroke execution, game strategy, and proper warm-up routines.
According to the organisers, the programme was part of the BFN’s ongoing partnership with the Community Sports and Educational Development (CSED) Initiative, which has supported similar “Shuttle Time” and “Outreach Badminton Training” sessions across the country over the past three years. These sessions are designed to help teachers and students learn the game together while fostering teamwork, discipline, and social development.
The trainees actively engaged with the coaches — asking questions, sharing experiences, and demonstrating newly acquired skills. At the end of the programme, each participating school received badminton kits, including rackets, shuttlecocks, and nets, to help sustain practice beyond the training.
The Director of the Adamawa State Sports Council, Mr. Daniel Ahmed, graced the event, while the lead facilitator, George Shitta, paid courtesy visits to key education stakeholders — Hajiya Aisha M. Umar, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, and Birsan Panuel, Executive Secretary of the Post Primary Schools Management Board (PPSMB).
Organisers described the initiative as a model of effective collaboration among sports authorities, education agencies, and development partners — a partnership they hope will continue to enhance both the academic and athletic growth of teachers, coaches, and students in Adamawa State.
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The curtain fell on the 8th Lagos International Badminton Classics at the Teslim Balogun Stadium on Saturday, with host nation Nigeria making the podium and the event earning praise as a model for sports tourism in Africa.
Though global heavyweights dominated the finals, Nigeria’s Obanisola and her partner gave the home crowd reason to cheer by clinching bronze in the Women’s Doubles, ensuring the green and white were represented on the podium.
Elsewhere, India’s S. Lele defended her Women’s Singles crown with a 21-15, 21-17 victory over compatriot Kashyap, while Russia’s neutral duo Alimov and Ogloblin sealed Men’s Doubles gold against UAE’s Ravikrishna and Rimdahoi.
Tournament organizers hailed the event as a resounding success. “The Lagos International Badminton Classics has once again proven that Nigeria is ready to host world-class sporting events,” said Francis Orbih, President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN). “We are building a brand that showcases Africa’s talent, hospitality, and passion for badminton.”
With $17,500 prize money shared among winners and athletes praising the hospitality of Lagos, the championship reaffirmed Nigeria’s growing profile as a hub for global sports. The 9th edition in 2026 promises an even bigger spectacle.
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Indonesia stamped their authority on the 8th Lagos International Badminton Classics, turning the Teslim Balogun Stadium into a stage of triumph as they swept multiple gold medals on the final day of action.
From the opening Mixed Doubles clash to the showpiece Men’s Singles final, the Southeast Asian powerhouse asserted its dominance.
The pair of Prasetyo and Munggaren set the tone by defeating India’s Ravat and Maneesha 21-15, 21-17, before P. Shujiwo powered past Japan’s M. Koga 21-15, 21-17 in a pulsating Men’s Singles final.
The Indonesians celebrate in style
The Women’s Doubles final confirmed Indonesia’s superiority, with Meida and Nastine dispatching UAE’s Quathun and Sreejithparol in just 25 minutes (21-18, 21-7), the shortest contest of the evening.
The highlight of the celebrations came as Indonesia’s national anthem echoed repeatedly through the Okoya Thomas Indoor Hall, with Ambassador Bambang Suharto personally presenting the Men’s Singles trophy to Shujiwo — a moment that underscored the national pride attached to the victories.
With three golds and several silver finishes, Indonesia emerged as the undisputed star nation of Africa’s premier badminton competition.
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