Other Sports
Nigeria Taekwondo Federation Board Inaugurated Amidst Foul Play Cry
Amidst allegations of inconclusive election into the board of the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF), a new board of the body was on Wednesday inaugurated by the Nigerian sports minister, Solomon Dalung.
The board is headed by Margaret Binga whose route to the board was through Nigeria Women in Sports (NAWIS).
The minister charged the board to revive its federation’s grassroots development initiative and frowned at the use of recycled athletes in almost all the federations. He urged them to develop new ideas for getting new talents.
“I want to be invited to see young athletes of ten years old being trained. I’m tired of seeing recycled athletes who have been on stage for close to two decades.
“I will adjudge your performance on how committed you are to grassroots sports development because I am convinced that if you train young people today, our potential in future and our dominance in the next 10 to 20 years is guaranteed.
“We have depleted completely our professional athletes profile and we are just recycling them”, remarked the sports minister.
Dalung also urged the new leadership to resist presiding over the federation as sole administrator.
“Let me charge you that the era of sole administration is gone for good. Every Federation must hold regular meetings as provided for, quarterly. Inability to hold your quarterly meetings is inviting the board to sit and impeach you.
“It is a collective responsibility and the board is responsible to Nigerians.”
He also said that he’ll be strict with the prudent management of funds from donor agencies, sponsors and partners and directed that a constitution of the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation be developed within three months.
“Call a congress, adopt the constitution and deposit a copy with the Nigeria Olympic Committee and the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
“We shall not hold elections again with guidelines in future. Without a valid constitution, it means the Federation will be managed by the Ministry of Youth and Sports and you cannot complain of interference by the Ministry.”
He recalled that the crisis in taekwondo was one of the first that welcomed him in office as a minister.
“I did everything possible to bring about reconciliation but the differences were sharp and contrasting.
“The crisis affected the performance of federation at the 2016 Olympics therefore, unity is very important in everything you do.
For those members who have held responsibility in the federation and are aggrieved, you must recognize their contributions to developing the federation.
“You must shield your swords of differences and give a leadership guide to support the development of Taekwondo in Nigeria. Taekwondo is one of the medals -fetching sports in Nigeria if there is unity of purpose among the members of the federation.”
In her acceptance speech, the newly inaugurated President, Margaret Binga, thanked the minister on behalf of the board and pledged total commitment to the uplift of Taekwondo in the country.
“I want to tell the minister that the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation board will not disappoint Nigerians.
“We thank you sincerely for inaugurating us today and we’ll kick start our programs immediately. We promise that we’ll go back to the grassroots, discover athletes and harness them.
“We’ll seat and chart a way forward and we promise that with God on our side, come Tokyo 2020 and the next all Africa games, we will be on the podium.”
Election into the board of the NTF had been crisis-ridden, leading to it not been conclusive at the general election into all the boards on June 13.
George Ashiru who contested for the post of the president was disqualified. According to the report of the election petition committee, he petitioned along with 20 state delegates.
Ashiru was nominated as ex-officio member. At the presidential Election, he was told that his name was not on the list by The Chairman of the electoral committee.
But the Appeal Committee noted that Ashiru’s name was wrongly substituted and found merit in his appeal and consequently nullified the presidential election and directed that fresh election be held and reinstate Ashiru as the Ex-officio/philanthropist/sponsor on the Board of the NTF.
The same situation also affected another petitioner, Temitayo Popoola who was on South West platform.
It was alleged that the master list was not used in the conduct of the election. Consequently, the Appeal Committee noted that the petitioners’ name was wrongly substituted, found merit in the appeal and consequently nullified the South West zonal election and ordered a fresh one.
According to a source in the board who did not attend the inauguration of the board, the rerun election never took place.
“When we were called to reassemble on July 21, we were kept waiting and it was obvious no election was going to hold. In frustration, some of the delegates left.
“It was then we were told that if we could form a quorum, which is 30, we should go ahead with the election. We could only raise 26 out of the expected 30. So we were told to disperse to be called up two weeks later.
That never happened. I am therefore shocked to learn that we were being secretly called to come for an inauguration after an inconclusive election”, remarked the board member,
The stage is set for the 3rd National Para Games, Nigeria’s largest and most prestigious para sports event, scheduled to hold from March 26 to April 3, 2026, in Abuja.
For nine days, the nation’s capital will host more than 3,000 athletes representing all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, competing across 15 different sports in what promises to be a vibrant celebration of resilience, excellence and inclusion. Organisers say champions will emerge, records will tumble, and new chapters will be written in Nigeria’s para sports history.
The Games are being organised by the National Sports Commission, which describes the event as a critical platform for talent discovery, national unity and the advancement of para sports development across the country.
Since its inception, the National Para Games has evolved into a cornerstone of Nigeria’s sporting calendar, spotlighting the remarkable abilities of athletes living with disabilities while reinforcing the country’s commitment to inclusive participation in sports.
Officials say the 2026 edition will surpass previous outings in scale, organisation and competitive intensity. With participation confirmed from every state of the federation and the FCT, the Games are expected to reveal the depth of talent spread nationwide and provide a pathway for standout performers to progress to continental and global competitions.
In a significant boost to preparations, the National Youth Service Corps has partnered with the Commission by releasing its Orientation Camp in Kubwa, Abuja, to serve as the official Games Village. The facility will accommodate athletes and officials throughout the competition, offering a secure and community-focused environment designed to foster camaraderie and peak performance.
The collaboration reflects a broader inter-agency commitment to empowering young Nigerians and promoting social integration through sport. It also underscores growing national recognition of para athletes as integral contributors to Nigeria’s sporting success.
With anticipation building and logistics nearing completion, Abuja is poised to welcome thousands of competitors and supporters for what promises to be a defining celebration of courage, competition and collective pride.
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By Keresifon Essien
Akwa Ibom State will parade a strong contingent of about 280 athletes and 44 officials at the 2026 Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF), scheduled to hold in Benin City, Edo State, from February 20 to 28.
The State Commissioner for Sports, Elder Paul Bassey, disclosed this in an exclusive interview with the Curator of Keresy Sports Museum (KSM), Keresifon Essien, noting that Team Akwa Ibom will compete in 16 sporting events at the regional multi-sports fiesta.
According to Bassey, the sports in which the state will feature include football, basketball, volleyball, handball, table tennis, badminton, lawn tennis, boxing, wrestling, judo, karate, taekwondo, weightlifting, swimming and chess.
To ensure optimal preparation, the state government has constituted a five-man State Liaison Committee to oversee arrangements for the festival. The committee is chaired by the Commissioner for Sports, Elder Paul Bassey.
Other members of the committee are Coach Catherine Ewa Ekuta, Head of Technical; Guinness World Record holder George Essien; Edidiong Stephen, a member; and Mfon Bassey, who serves as Secretary.
Bassey explained that the committee has been mandated to fine-tune all preparations for the festival, beginning with the state trials scheduled for this weekend, and to ensure that the contingent arrives in Benin City fully prepared and ready to project Akwa Ibom State positively at the Niger Delta Sports Festival.
He expressed confidence that with proper planning and early preparations, Team Akwa Ibom will make a strong impression when the festival proper begins.
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Team Nigeria on Monday afternoon departed the country for Cairo, Egypt, where they will compete in the 2025 World Karate Championship scheduled for November 27–30.
The nation will be represented by five outstanding athletes who have demonstrated exceptional discipline, consistency, and competitive grit in their buildup to the global event. The team is made up of:
- Loveth Ngozi Okoro – Kumite -50kg
- Godfirst Orie Ukoha-Sampson – Kumite -55kg
- Constance Tamunodiepreye Abode – Kumite -61kg
- Ujunwa Caroline Nwankwo – Kumite +68kg
- Oluwaseun Olorunbe – Male Kata
The athletes, who have undergone intense preparations, will be led by coach Efezino Akpotu, while Olusegun Abode serves as the leader of delegation.
Four members of the squad—Ngozi, Godfirst, Constance, and Ujunwa—are already well-known names on the domestic circuit. They are regular contenders at the Zainab Saleh International Female Open Karate Championship, an annual tournament founded by Hajiya Zainab Saleh, a Board Member of the Karate Federation of Nigeria (KFN). The championship has been widely recognised for empowering and developing female karatekas across the country.
Ahead of the team’s participation, the Board of the KFN expressed confidence in the athletes’ ability to deliver strong performances on the world stage.
However, it also appealed to the National Sports Commission (NSC) for urgent financial support to offset debts incurred in ensuring Nigeria’s participation in the championship.
According to the federation, the World Karate Championship falls under the mandate of the NSC, and timely intervention is necessary to stabilise the federation’s operations after securing the team’s trip to Cairo.
Team Nigeria will now focus on making a strong impact as they join the world’s best karatekas in Egypt later this week.
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