Badminton Fever Spreads to Uromi with Ibhawoh Foundation Training Sessions

After charting 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 in the country.

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

It has also extended the goodwill 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, 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 programme 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 for 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 Esan. 

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 the Francis Ibhawoh Foundation and CSED Initiative.