The Edo Sports Commission and the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) have held a two-day badminton training for games masters/mistresses in Uzarue, in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State.

The event, which was held at the premises of St Angela’s Girls Grammar School Uzarue was attended by 21 teachers and 84 students from 21 secondary schools in Etsako land, as well as secondary schools from Igarra, Afuze and Ikpeshi.

The unique thing about this grassroots badminton training is that it provides teachers and students with the opportunity to learn the basics of a sport together at the same time.

The training involved the theoretical aspect of the game and more importantly the practical area of badminton.

All’s well that ends well. A group photograph of all the participants.

The training was conducted by three qualified “Shuttle Time” trainers, Godswill Afejika, Olalekan, Fajimiyo, and Blessing Osayomwanbo.

The trainees were taught shaped grip and the thumb grip. There was also court work with balloons. Balloons were used for services and smashing drills.

On the second day of the training event, the three trainers held a session with the game’s masters/mistresses.

This was followed by a session with the students. The games masters/mistresses were taught the technical aspect of badminton, which involves officiating, rules of the game, safeguarding, and the roles of the games masters/mistress in developing the game in their various schools.

The students had their practical session on basic badminton grips, strokes, footwork and the rules of the game with the use of balloons.

The training event, which was bankrolled by Edo State Sports Commission with the technical support of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) was powered by CSED (Community Sport and Educational Development) Initiative.

The event is a reflection of what can be achieved at the grassroots level if government agencies (education, sport and health), sporting federations/associations and the third sector (NGOs and private individuals) collaborate to share knowledge and resources to use access to sports to build the capacity of teachers and students.

At the end of the training event, free basic badminton equipment (nets, rackets and shuttlecocks) was distributed to the 21 schools in order to support the learning and practicing of the students and their teachers in their various schools.

Distribution of equipment to representatives of the schools.

Since the current Board Members of the BFN assumed office, they have worked hard to attract the support of different organisations and sponsors in their attempt to attract new and young players to the game of badminton.

This they have done by organizing “Shuttle Time” training as well as “badminton outreach training in the six geo-political zones of Nigeria, through the BFN partnership with CSED Initiative.

It is hoped that other sports federations would emulate the grassroots developmental effort of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria, who have also taken the game to at-risk groups (IDPs and asylum seekers) in Nigeria.

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Eniola Bolaji, Nigeria’s sensational Paralympic bronze medallist has continued to do what she knows best – winning!

She has etched her name in history once again by clinching gold at the Egypt Para-Badminton International 2025.

In a commanding performance, Bolaji defeated Sweden’s Hillevi Salomonsson 2-0 (21-1, 21-2) in the women’s SL3 final on Sunday, underscoring her dominance in the event. The African champion also showcased her prowess throughout the tournament, overcoming Shahinda Mohamed (21-7, 21-2), Basma Nabil-Fawzy (21-6, 21-4), and Elizabeth Puma (21-2, 21-4) with straight-set victories in earlier rounds.

According to the Badminton World Federation, Bolaji has competed in 10 international championships over the past two years, emerging victorious in all—a remarkable feat that cements her as a force to be reckoned with in Para Badminton.

Reacting to her triumph, Francis Orbih, President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria, celebrated Bolaji’s achievement, highlighting its significance for Nigerian sports.

“Eniola Bolaji’s gold medal at the Egypt International 2025 is a testament to her unparalleled talent and dedication. As the first and only African medalist in Para Badminton at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, she has once again brought immense pride to Nigeria. Winning 10 consecutive international tournaments is no small feat; she is a national treasure and a global icon,” Orbih stated.

He added that Bolaji’s success is a beacon of hope for both Para Badminton and Badminton in Nigeria, inspiring athletes to strive for excellence in 2025.

Looking ahead, Orbih reaffirmed the Federation’s commitment to hosting world-class events, including the Para Badminton International Championship and the All Africa para badminton championship in Abia State this October.

“The Badminton Federation of Nigeria, in collaboration with Abia State, is determined to deliver a successful Para Badminton International Championship and the All-African Para Badminton Championship. We are fully committed to meeting and exceeding international standards,” Orbih concluded.

Bolaji’s victory not only marks a golden start to the year but also solidifies her status as a trailblazer in Nigerian and African Badminton/Para badminton.

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After chatting the course to Olympic glory and with the Los Angeles Games in view, badminton is fast spreading like wildfire into every part of Nigeria.

Recently Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) with the support of the continental body, the Badminton Confederation Africa (BCA) held a coaching course.

Other bodies have taken the baton with the Francis Ibhawoh Foundation taking the lead by organizing training courses for prospective badminton players in secondary schools in Uromi, Edo State.

It was also extended to game masters and mistresses in Uromi in Esan Northeast Local Government Area of Edo state.

The event was held in collaboration with BFN, the Edo State Ministry of Education, and the Edo State Sports Commission and powered by CSED (Community Sport and Educational Development) Initiative.

The two-day training event involving 69 students from 23 secondary schools, was held at the indoor hall of Esan Model Grammar School on 22 and 23 January 2025.

Three badminton “Shuttle Time” trained coaches, Godswill Ifejika, Olalekan, Fajimiyo, and Blessing Osayomwanbo were on the ground to offer the basic skills to the students.

The badminton outreach for secondary schools’ project is designed to teach game masters and mistresses and the students, the basic skills in Badminton.It is one of the rare training events in sports where students and their teachers learn a sport together at the same time. 

The game master of Irrua Girls Secondary School, Ambrose Okonofua remarked that “we were pleased with the training which has impacted positively on us and our students.

“The program has in the last two days engaged the minds of the students and I am confident of seeing world champions emerging from these badminton outreach training events in Nigeria in future.”

 Also, one of the coaches, Olalekan Fajimiyo commended the schools for their massive turnout and their show of passion adding that, it was one outreach with very high numbers of participants in attendance at the grassroots level.

Declaring the event closed, the Commissioner of Education who was represented by the Principal of Ujoelen Grammar School, Ekpoma, commended the sponsors for their commitment towards the development of badminton in Edo State and the country in general.

She also applauded the turnout of secondary schools and said that it is a reflection that Edo State is the hub of sports in Nigeria.

She also thanked the Trustees of the Francis Ibhawoh Foundation for bringing badminton to their doorstep.

She expressed the hope that other prominent sons and daughters of Esanland will strive to bring pro-social activities that will have a positive impact on the people of Esanland. 

The highlight of the outreach training was the presentation of basic badminton equipment (rackets, nets & shuttles) to all the 23 secondary schools that participated in the outreach training courtesy of Francis Ibhawoh Foundation and CSED Initiative.

It would be recalled that in the past three years, the BFN has embarked on using outreach training and their Shuttle Time training to spread the development of the games in different towns and cities in Nigeria.

This has made BFN to be the most students and teachers friendly sports Federation in Nigeria.

The BFN has also taken the game to IDP Camp Uhogua and specifically trained asylum seekers/refugees on how to play badminton in Ogoja (Cross River State).

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