All-African Senior Badminton Championship: NSC pledges support to Team Nigeria

With just few days to go before the commencement of the 2025 All-African Senior Badminton Championship in Douala, Cameroon, the Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, has reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to supporting Nigerian Sports Federations, including badminton, as they strive for excellence.

Speaking ahead of Team Nigeria’s departure, Olopade emphasized the growing importance of badminton in Nigeria’s sporting landscape, commending the leadership of Francis Orbih, President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria, for elevating the sport’s profile.

“For us at the NSC, and speaking the mind of our Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, badminton has become a very important sport in the Nigerian sports ecosystem. President Orbih and his leadership team have created a buzz around badminton, and it is evident in what athletes like Aanu have achieved,” Olopade said.

The Nigerian badminton team, comprising 10 players (five men and five women), will compete in Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles, Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles, and Mixed Doubles events.

Among them is Anuoluwapo Opeyori, Nigeria’s number one player, who is determined to defend his singles title after his gold-winning performance last year.

During a visit to the team’s camp in Abuja on Wednesday to bid them farewell, Hon. Olopade assured the athletes of the Commission’s full support, urging them to give their best effort.

“I convey the Chairman’s commitment to supporting all sports, and we recognize the growth of Nigerian badminton. It is our responsibility to encourage these athletes to keep excelling for the country.
“They are the defending champions, and my visit is to show our love, our support, and to ensure they are well taken care of. The confidence is there ; it’s all up to them to deliver,” Olopade stated.

Badminton Federation President Francis Orbih expressed confidence in the team, highlighting their readiness for the championships.

“I’m confident they will perform very well. We have a lot of potential, and the Director General’s visit will further boost their morale. We appreciate the support,” Orbih said.

Meanwhile, Opeyori is eyeing back-to-back victories, aiming to retain his African singles title and lead Nigeria to another strong performance at the championships.

At the previous edition in Cairo, Egypt, Team Nigeria secured one gold, two silver, and four bronze medals.

With the 2025 edition set to run from February 10–16, expectations are high for another remarkable showing from the country’s top players

I’ll never deny my Igbo
Identity, says Ohaneze Ndigbo President General

The President-General of the apex Igbo socio-political organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Senator John Azuta-Mbata, has firmly stated that nothing will make him deny his Igbo identity even as he described criticisms against him as baseless and rooted in misunderstanding.

Speaking on Monday during a courtesy visit by the Opobo Elder Statesmen-4-Sim in Port Harcourt, Azuta-Mbata reaffirmed his commitment to supporting Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara while also upholding the principles of inclusivity and unity.

Azuta-Mbata addressed concerns raised by certain Rivers groups and political figures, asserting that his Igbo ancestry is indisputable.

“Some people say they are from Benin, that their ancestry is Benin. “And I say, that’s fine. Let’s go there. We say that we have a relationship with the Igbo. I’m not going to deny my Igbo identity,”

Dismissing the criticisms, Mbata added, “Anyhow you like, talk from now till tomorrow; I’m not going to deny my ancestry. We are related. Why are you shouting me down? I bet you these things (criticisms) will just naturally die down.”

Highlighting the need for the Igbo to remain politically relevant, Azuta-Mbata stressed the importance of engagement at the national level.

“We must operate at the highest stage of this Nigerian project. We have to be able to access the powers that be. “Politics is played from Abuja and not here. It’s when they finish from Abuja that they come here. I won’t say everything today. A word, they say, is enough for the wise,” he noted.

Earlier in the meeting, the Chairman of Opobo Elder Statesmen-4-Sim, Edwin Cockeye-Brown, congratulated Azuta-Mbata on his electoral victory and praised his steadfast support for Governor Fubara, particularly during the attempted impeachment crisis.

In a similar vein, Rivers state Chairman of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Livingstone Wechie, described the visit as a historic moment that affirmed Azuta-Mbata’s leadership over the global Igbo community.

“Today, we have the tallest Ikwerre son, both in height and stature, to be given this task to lead more than 100 million Ndigbo all over the world,” Wechie stated. He further referenced Azuta-Mbata’s journey, remarking, “This is the stone that the builders rejected, now the chief cornerstone.” Wechie reaffirmed the unwavering support of Ohanaeze Ndigbo for Governor Fubara and his administration.