Netball
Scores of students graduate from sporting Coders Programme
Twenty-one female students of Tare Pet Montessori Group of Schools, Yanagoa in Bayelsa State have graduated from the Sporting Coders pilot programme that was organised by CSED Initiative and the Management of the school.
It is the first of its kind training programme in Nigeria which combined training in netball and coding and is aimed at introducing the participants to basic training in coding, as well as laying the foundation for them to consider future careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).
The Science, Engineering and Mathematics is an area where the female gender are currently under-represented.
The 12-week training programme which started in the first week of January 2024, and involved the participants doing their coding training every Saturday morning for a period of two hours, which is then followed by two hours of netball training.
Free lunch was provided to the netballers by the school cooks. In order to sustain the interest of the
students from the rigorous training of the netball coaches that are led by Funsho Ekundayo, the students were provided with two educational vouchers worth ten thousand Naira on each occasion.
Furthermore, three of their ex-netball colleagues who are now in universities were provided with educational vouchers worth fifty thousand Naira by the training organisers, who have Lord’s Taverners (UK based charity), as their kits supplier.
The students were provided with twelve netball training/match balls and two separate sets of sports jerseys and training bibs.
During the period of the training course, CSED Initiative donated one hundred and ten general interest books to the school library, as well as a new laptop to the Management
of the school, who did everything within their power to ensure the success of the training
programme.
The parents of the 21 students were also not to be outdone, as they showed up in numbers during the school’s recently held inter-house sport competition and on the gradation day of the Sporting Coders programme, in order to support their daughters.
The school proprietress, Mrs. Victoria Mologe advised the students to work hard and consider developing their sporting talent, while still pursuing their academic or professional careers.
Tare Pet School are currently the netball champions of Bayelsa State. The captain of the team, Alaere Wisdom, lauded the coaches, parents, teachers and the sponsors for providing them with the opportunity to access this free girl child friendly training programme.
In her remark, the Director Technical Bayelsa State Sports Council, Mrs. Catherine Sasoude stated that while growing up in the 80s her parents used to discourage her from taking part in sports, but she managed to combine sport and education together.
As a result, she is now supporting her two daughters to take part in sports, and netball is currently their sport of choice, after they have tried other sports.
Mrs. Sasoude thanked the sponsors (CSED Initiative and Lord’s Taverners) for investing in the leaders of tomorrow. On his part, the Head of School Sports Coordinators in Bayelsa State, Mr. Godwin Adagbo, stated that Community Sports and Educational Development (CSED) Initiative training of games masters and games mistresses under their “Project 2027” programme is currently yielding positive results in the state.
Bayelsa State Sports Council is the only Sports Council in Nigeria that currently have a functioning netball team that takes part in competitions.
Certificates were presented to the graduating students of the Sporting Coders programme in the presence of their cheering parents, teachers, and fellow students.
The biggest cheer of the day was the announcement that the 21 graduates of this programme would be provided with a fifty thousand Naira educational voucher by the organisers, once they show proof of being offered admission into a tertiary educational institution in future.
Furthermore, these new graduates would be supported to access online safeguarding training, and they will be tasked with supporting 10 local primary schools to develop their netball access training through the “Bee netball pathway.”
A spokesman for the event organisers stated that CSED Initiative is currently exploring the possibility of rolling out the Sporting Coders programme in other states of Nigeria.
They are open to partnership and sponsorship with other relevant NGOs, corporate organisations, and educational institutions. More importantly, subject to the availability of funds, they will consider doing the Sporting Coders training for residents of hard to reach community (IDPs, refugees and wards of the state).
The Bayelsa State Netball Association, with financial backing from the Bayelsa State Government, has organised a two-day basic netball seminar for secondary school Physical Education teachers in Ogbia Local Government Area.
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.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Over 40 schoolgirls in Jalingo have benefited from a 10-day empowerment programme that combined sports training with vital life-skills education, thanks to a collaboration between the Taraba State Sports Council, MAS Foundation, and the Community Sport and Educational Development (CSED) Initiative.
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.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
In a bid to enhance the educational and sporting development of students at Saint Maria Goretti Girls Grammar School (SMGGGS) in Benin City, the Francis and Fidelia Ibhawoh Foundation has secured approval from the Edo State Government, through the Ministry of Education, to construct an outdoor netball court within the school premises.
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.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
- World Cup1 week ago
BREAKING: At last FIFA’s Axe falls on South Africa!
- World Cup1 week ago
South Africa to Appeal FIFA Ruling Over Mokoena Eligibility Case
- Nigerian Football1 week ago
Super Eagles Set for Double Friendly Showdown with Venezuela and Colombia in USA
- World Cup1 week ago
Sport Minister Orders Probe into SAFA over Bafana’s Costly Points Deduction
- World Cup6 days ago
FIFA Sanction on South Africa Offers Super Eagles a Lifeline — But a Lesson from History Looms
- CAF Confederation Cup1 week ago
Asante Kotoko End Kwara United’s Confederation Cup Campaign in Abeokuta
- U-20 FOOTBALL1 week ago
Two penalty appeal lost as Flying Eagles stumble at first hurdle
- World Cup4 days ago
Super Eagles Walk Tightrope as Nine Key Players Risk Suspension in World Cup Qualifiers