The initiative, driven by the CSED Initiative (Community Sports and Educational Development), is positioning netball as a key tool for youth engagement, with particular emphasis on the girl child.

While the recent Africa Netball Cup in Malawi has highlighted the sport’s growing inclusivity across the continent, Project 2027 organisers insist that their primary focus remains on girls, for whom netball was originally designed.

According to the organisers, providing girls with access to netball in safe and structured environments can help sustain their interest in sport well beyond their teenage years, contributing to both physical wellbeing and social development.

Progress so far has been significant. At the most recent Project 2027 training programme held in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State in October 2025, 58 teachers were trained, bringing the total number of trained teachers and community youths to 511.

Netball training events under the initiative have now been conducted in nine states — Edo, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Ondo, Cross River, Enugu, Taraba and Rivers.

The training sessions, which are free to participants, have been delivered in partnership with state Sports Commissions and Ministries of Education, as well as non-governmental supporters including the Francis and Fidelia Ibhawoh Foundation. Bayelsa State Government earned special mention as a trailblazer after fully sponsoring the netball training event held in Otuoke in September 2025 — a move widely interpreted as a declaration of intent to become Nigeria’s leading netball state.

Beyond coaching education, Project 2027 has also explored innovative programming. Tare Pet Montessori Group of Schools partnered with CSED Initiative in 2024 to pilot the “Sporting Coders” programme and is notable as one of only two schools in Nigeria with a functioning male netball team.

Sport-for-change advocate Cornelius Ehimiaghe, a leading voice within the Naija Netball Stakeholders (NNS), described grassroots mobilisation as a national obligation.

“We have no choice, we cannot wait,” Ehimiaghe said. “It is a tough task, made tougher by challenges at the national administrative level, but we will keep pushing the boundaries. We will beg, we will borrow, but we will not steal in our bid to revive netball in Nigeria.”

Ehimiaghe also acknowledged the critical support previously provided by Lord’s Taverners, which donated 2,200kg of sports kits and equipment to the project in its final week of operations.

Looking ahead, Project 2027 organisers confirmed ongoing discussions with sporting and educational authorities, NGOs and corporate bodies to co-sponsor future training events. While funding remains the initiative’s biggest constraint, a revised co-sponsorship model is expected to help maintain training standards, with attendees responsible for producing training bibs for their schools.

Exceptions will be made for displaced and vulnerable communities, including Ogoja, where Project 2027 plans to fully underwrite training costs. Notably, four Cameroonian refugees trained as netball coaches are expected to assist in training 30 teachers in Ogoja and surrounding areas later this year.

At a broader level, Naija Netball Stakeholders also aim to stimulate more state-level competitions, encourage the formation of additional state netball associations, and support refresher programmes led by Netball Africa–certified coaches.

The group is equally mobilising the Nigerian netball community to support the global online campaign backing the inclusion of netball at the 2032 Olympic Games.

For Project 2027, the message is clear: sustained grassroots action, strategic partnerships and community ownership remain the pathway to restoring netball’s relevance in Nigeria.

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The training, held at Ovwian Secondary School, Udu, was co-sponsored by the Francis and Fidelia Ibhawoh Foundation and the Community Sports and Educational Development (CSED) Initiative.

 It attracted 58 teachers from both government and private schools across Udu LGA, as well as invited participants from Army Day Secondary School, Effurun (Uvwie LGA); College of Commerce, Warri; and Otokutu Secondary School, Otokutu (Ughelli South LGA).

The programme featured both theoretical and practical sessions led by Netball Africa-certified coaches—Edema Fuludu, Beauty Obamwonyi, and Onome Fuludu—supported by Ruth Opuene, a netball coach with the Bayelsa State Sports Commission. Participants were introduced to the fundamentals of netball, including the game’s seven positions and player roles, basic court marking, and game rules.

One of the major highlights of the training was a special session on safeguarding students and athletes, which emphasised the importance of creating safe environments in school sports. The seminar concluded with a practical match session, as two teams of teachers demonstrated their newly acquired skills on the court.

Chief Inspector of Education for Udu LGA, Samson Ochuko Omosonwhofa, and the Principal of Ovwian Secondary School, Mrs. Ochuko Gere, commended the organisers for introducing the game to the teachers and encouraged participants to integrate netball into their schools’ sports programmes.

Netball, originally designed for girls and women, has evolved into a more inclusive sport, with World Netball now engaging the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games organisers to include the sport in future Games.

Presently, netball’s highest competitive platforms include the Commonwealth Games and the Netball World Cup, the most recent of which was held in Cape Town, South Africa, in 2023.

Once nearly extinct in Nigeria, netball has seen a revival through CSED Initiative’s “Project 2027,” launched in July 2022. The project aims to introduce the game to one million Nigerian school children by training and equipping 1,000 teachers nationwide.

The initiative uses netball as a tool to promote learning, discipline, and Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education among students.

At the close of the Udu seminar, participants received certificates of attendance and free netball equipment—including balls, rims, and whistles.

The event marked a new milestone as the largest single netball teacher training in Nigeria, pushing the total number of trained teachers and coaches under the CSED Initiative to over 500.

Special recognition was given to Omosonwhofa for his pivotal role in mobilising teachers and ensuring the programme’s success.

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The capacity-building programme, packaged by the Community Sports and Educational Development (CSED) Initiative, was hosted at the sports gym of the Federal University Otuoke.

A total of 26 teachers were trained as new netball coaches, receiving both theoretical and practical lessons in the sport.

Led by Netball Africa-certified coaches Edema Fuludu and Onome Edema, and supported by coaches Catherine Sasuode, Ruth Opuene and Opusam Ekinisam Ete, participants were taught court marking, warm-up routines, game positions and responsibilities, as well as safeguarding in sports.

The training ended with a practice match involving the newly trained coaches.

Despite heavy rain on the second day, the coaches remained committed to completing their practical sessions.

Each participant also received free netball starter packs — balls, rims, whistles, training bibs — along with anti-drug abuse brochures.

Speaking at the close of the seminar, Fuludu urged the coaches to transfer their knowledge to students in their respective schools, adding that inspection teams from the Association would monitor progress and that inter-school competitions would be staged before the end of the academic year.

Some of the coaches described netball as an exciting sport that builds agility and is enjoyable to both play and watch.

Coordinator of the Bayelsa Netball Association, Catherine Sasuode, thanked Governor Douye Diri for supporting the initiative and called for sustained funding to expand grassroots netball development across the state.

Last year, Bayelsa made headlines when 21 female secondary school students completed the “Sporting Coders” programme, which combined netball training with coding skills.

The state government said its support for this latest initiative is aimed at empowering the girl-child through sports and education while promoting inclusivity, as boys are also beginning to take up the game.

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The initiative, which focused on introducing girls to netball, also exposed them to health education, personal hygiene, and drug abuse awareness.

Nurse Ediseh Danladi Issa led discussions on hygiene, after which sanitary pads were distributed, while free pamphlets on the dangers of drug abuse were shared among participants.

Held at the Jolly Nyami Stadium, the training engaged primary and secondary school students drawn from GDSS Nyamusala, Howai GDSS Jalingo, and Magami GDSS Jalingo.

Coaches Freeman Njeta Godwin and Falin Dauda, supported by three other trainers, taught the basics of netball under the auspices of the Taraba State Netball Association.

On the final day, MAS Foundation representative, Mrs. Lydia Shitta, presented certificates of attendance and urged the girls to pursue academic excellence alongside sporting development.

To further boost netball’s growth, CSED Initiative donated 10 rims and 20 balls to five new schools joining the state’s netball programme.

The Taraba Sports Council reaffirmed its readiness to partner with NGOs and corporate organisations in creating more opportunities that will keep young people positively engaged through sports and life-skill initiatives.

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The approval that was conveyed via an official correspondence from the Edo State Ministry of Education, reflects the government’s recognition of the Ibhawoh Foundation as a reputable and impactful NGO.

The Ministry commended the Foundation’s proven commitment to educational advancement and community empowerment, especially among young people.

Founded by the Catholic Church in 1959, SMGGGS is located in the Upper Sakponba area of Benin City. The school has a rich legacy of academic and sporting excellence, particularly in hockey.

This legacy informed the state government’s recent to upgrade the school’s hockey field to an astroturf pitch, which was utilized during the 2021 National Sports Festival hosted in Benin City.

Commenting on the initiative, Gerard Ibhawoh, Chair of the Francis and Fidelia Ibhawoh Foundation, explained that the decision to build a netball court is driven by the Foundation’s commitment to youth development through sport and community engagement.

He noted that this effort will complement the ongoing contributions of the school’s alumni association.

In recent years, the SMGGGS Old Girls Association has spearheaded a few transformative projects, including the establishment of a Cisco Academy and an NCC IT Centre, the donation of 40 sewing machines and vocational equipment, and the refurbishment of a staff residential building.

“Saint Maria Goretti Girls Grammar School holds a special place in our family’s history,” Mr. Ibhawoh stated. “Our mother taught at the school for over two decades, and two of my sisters are proud alumnae. In honour of our mother’s legacy, we are committed to delivering a netball facility of a high standard in a timely and efficient manner.”

The choice of building a netball court is deeply personal and symbolic. Netball was a favourite sport of the Foundation’s matriarch, who was one of Nigeria’s earliest netball coaches and led her school’s netball team in Ekpoma as far back as 1968. Netball remains a sport uniquely designed to engage and empower the girl-child, making it an ideal tool for promoting gender equity and holistic development. Our Foundation envisions this intervention as a catalyst for revitalizing sports engagement in the Upper Sakponba area, a community teeming with energetic and talented youth.”

The Francis and Fidelia Ibhawoh Foundation was established in 2014 in memory of the late Francis Ehidiamen Ibhawoh by his family and close associates. The Foundation honours the enduring legacy of both Francis and Fidelia Ibhawoh—dedicated educators and public servants—by supporting initiatives in education, youth empowerment, and community development.

Since its formal establishment in 2015, the Foundation has made notable contributions in the areas of sports and healthcare, often in partnership with the Community Sport and Educational Development (CSED) Initiative. Its flagship initiative, the annual Francis and Fidelia Ibhawoh Essay Competition for Undergraduates, addresses pressing societal issues and encourages solution-driven thinking among Nigerian youths.

To date, the Foundation has directly impacted over 300 students through scholarships and grants, enabling them to pursue higher education and achieve their academic goals. Additionally, it has supported 182 individuals through mentorship programs, skills training, international exchange programs, and professional development opportunities. Notably, in collaboration with Empowerment Square (Canada), the Foundation awards an annual $1,000 Mentorship Fellowship Grant to support the aspirations of young professionals and students while promoting international collaboration and innovation.

Through its sustained focus on education, empowerment, and sustainable development, the Francis and Fidelia Ibhawoh Foundation continues to leave a meaningful and lasting impact on communities across Nigeria and beyond. 

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The Sporting Coders programme involved the netballers of Tare Pet Montessori Group of Schools in Yenagoa (Bayelsa State) combining netball training with learning how to code.

The pilot project which was designed and powered by the CSED Initiative was implemented by Funsho Ekundayo and Victoria Allison Ayebaifie (netball coaches) and Humphrey Okonkwo Nnaemeka (IT teacher) and was case-managed by Catherine Sasuode.

 The financial investment on IT infrastructure by the proprietor of the school, Victoria Ebimenere Mologe was the foundation for the success of the Sporting Coders pilot programme.

The Sporting Coders programme who are now undergraduate students include Victory Woyengipreye Gesiye studying Medicine at Afe Babalola University); Wisdom Alaere Nathan reading Political Science at Niger Delta University; Chloe Woyengidoubara Gesiye who is studying Pharmacy at Afe Babalola University and  Victory Peremoboerei Wenibowei reading  Micro biology at Rivers State University.

The Sporting Coders programme was specifically designed to give the girl child access to learn new skills, while at the same time enjoying taking part in sports in a safe and nurturing space. It was also designed to address the under-representation of girls in STEM courses.

The pilot project used the medium of netball a once almost extinct sport in Nigeria, as a platform for advocating for and empowering the girl-child.

It would be recalled that during the period of the Sporting Coders programme, the 21 students were on two separate occasions given ten thousand Naira educational vouchers, as well as free lunch during the 12 Saturdays that they attended the programme.

Furthermore, the CSED Initiative fulfilled its promise of giving fifty thousand naira each to any of the pioneering cohorts that gain admission into a tertiary institution.

At the moment, seven members of the netball team of Tare Pet School are currently in their final year and CSED Initiative is expected to deliver their promise to these students in future.

Speaking with our reporter, a trustee of CSED Initiative stated: “We will try to deliver our promise to the netballers. We do not have to beg, steal or borrow to do so. All we have to do is to reduce the quantity and quality of eba and soup we usually eat.

“The management of Tare Pet School, their parents, members of the Naija Netball Stakeholders and the sports for change activists in Nigeria are proud of these pioneering students. As they have proved that they are not just champions on the netball court, they are also academic and community ambassadors of the game of netball, which is currently taking baby steps in Nigeria.”

Regarding plans of taking the Sporting Coders training to other parts of Nigeria, the trustee of CSED Initiative stated: “It is a gradual process because it is cash intensive it involves a lot of factors (access to electricity, availability of IT teachers and access to computer desktops/laptops) that are outside our control.”

“However, we can disclose that through our partnership with the Francis and Fidelia Ibhawoh Foundation, the Sporting Coders programme is going to be held before the end of this year in St. Maria Goretti Girls Grammar School in Benin City.

The UNN Secondary School Nsukka is also in pole position for the Sporting Coders programme.

As part of our responsibility to take sporting and educational opportunities to at-risk and vulnerable communities, we are likely to take the Sporting Coders training to IDPs Uhogua (Benin City) and the Cameroonian refugees’ community and their host community in Ogoja (Cross River State).

But for netballers in the last two locations. we would need to reach a working agreement with the management of IDPs Uhogua, as well as with SEMA, the sports committees of the Cameroonian refugees, representatives of the host community and the UNHCR Ogoja.

As this is the only way we can ensure that everybody is carried along to achieve successful outcomes for the programme beneficiaries in future.”

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

This training is part of “Project 2027,” which is the 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’s 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.

Thirty-five participants from various secondary schools, including the Nigeria Navy secondary, the Army Day Secondary School, private and public secondary schools, in the city, as well as two Cameroonian refugees who represented the Cameroonian community that is 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 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 that 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 of training event.

The new netball coaches take the number of trained netball coaches under “Project 2027” by CSED Initiative to 411.

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Six houses competed in events in different sports at the premises of the 41- year old school.

The Chairman of the school Board of Governors, Professor F.A. Okwo commended the staff and students of the school for their efforts in hosting a successful inter-house competition, as well as stressed on the important role sports play in the general well-being and health of students.

  For the first time in the history of the school, the game of netball was introduced by the school management that is led by Uche Adama.

About 70 female students competed in the netball event which was the star attraction of this inter-house sports competition.

It provided the young students with the opportunities to exhibit the knowledge and skills that they have learnt from Oluchi Ngwoke and their other P.E. Teachers.

Red and Green Houses played in the final netball match which was won by Green House.

Pink House beat Yellow House to claim the third position. Adaeze Chigbochieaha of Pink House was the best goal scorer of the netball event.

Charles-Nnadi Chibundo of Yellow House beat Eze Miracle of Green House to emerge as the most valuable player of the netball competition.

Playing netball has generated a lot of excitement among the female students at the school, who have been thrilled at what they could do during the competition.

The students learned so fast the rules and skills that are needed to excel in the game of netball.

Given the level of progress the student netballers have made in a short period, the CSED initiative which has supported the introduction of netball to the school, must consider working with the relevant authorities to introduce netball to other secondary schools in the Nsukka area.

 The Trustees of the CSED Initiative must also explore the opportunity of introducing their “Sporting Coders” program to the University Secondary School Nsukka in 2025.

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 The venue was the netball field of Adagom Camp 1 and participants were from  Adagom 1, Adagom 3, and Ukende refugee camps in Ogoja Local Government area of Cross River State.  The event was organized by CSED (Community Sport and Educational Development) Initiative with the approval and support of the PM of SEMA, the Adagom 1 SEMA Supervisor, and the leaders of the three refugee camps.

Twenty players from each camp were kitted by Lord’s Taverners and CSED Initiative. Each netballer was provided a sport book (“Kick It”) that was donated by the Uxbridge library of London Borough of Hillingdon (UK).

The netballers from the Ukende camp won the two exhibition games. The highlight of the event was the presentation of a five thousand Naira, educational vouchers to each of the sixty netballers.

It would be recalled that netball was recently introduced to the three Ogoja refugee camps after CSED Initiative “Project 2027” training of P.E. teachers in Cross River state was held in April 2024. The “Project 2027” training event led to the certification of coaches Stephanie Obi, Marceline Ode, and Shantel Eseh, who are Cameroonian citizens.

These three coaches are now charged with the responsibility of providing the girls and ladies in their respective camp with access to learn the basic of netball, identify, and nurture the talents of the budding netballers.

CSED Initiative with the support of Lord’s Taverners, UNHCR, Cross River SEMA, and other relevant partners/stakeholders hope to use access to playing netball to provide psycho-social support and access to educational/life skills training opportunities to the residents of the three camps.

The immediate goal of CSED Initiative is to build a multi-purpose cement playing surface for the use of the netballers in each of the separate camps.

Furthermore, some of these netballers will have access to take part in the “Sporting Coders” programme, which will allow them access to learn how to code, while at the same time playing netball.

The organisers of the event stated that their ultimate goal is to give the Cameroonian refugees a sporting chance to compete with other girls all over the world; in an attempt to feature in the netball event of the 2032 Olympic games in Brisbane.

The Cameroonians will definitely be inspired by the story of Mary Cholhok Nuba, a former South Sudanese refugee, who is now a netball superstar in England.

The only exception is Mehmet Ozturk who is from Turkey. He will be the team’s match reader and analyst. The 59 year old have had stints with various European teams.

  Daniel Amokachi is well known as a former Super Eagles player. He is joined by  Benjamin James, Chima Onyeike and goalkeeper trainer, Olatunji Baruwa.

Benjamin James had previously featured for Shooting Stars of Ibadan and Super Stores of Lagos. He is from Bayelsa  State.

He later moved to Italy and Germany. For years, he was with Bundesliga club Hoffenheim. He will be the fitness trainer as he has a diploma in fitness from the sports university and has worked with various top European clubs like VfB Stuttgart, PAOK and Willem II.

Chima Onyeike is a Dutch coach of Nigerian origin.