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.

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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.

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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. 

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