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The National Sports Commission (NSC) has secured the commitment of the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) to provide technical support, funding and coaching expertise towards the development of volleyball in Nigeria.
The commitment followed a meeting between officials of the NSC and the FIVB, the world governing body for volleyball, in Dakar, Senegal, where both organisations agreed to collaborate in strengthening the sport in the country.
The partnership is expected to focus on grassroots development, talent identification, coaching education, refereeing standards, competition structure and improved performance in both indoor and beach volleyball.
The development is coming on the heels of Nigeria’s historic qualification for the Olympic Games in beach volleyball, marking the country’s first appearance in the event. The collaboration is expected to build on the achievement by providing the necessary technical and institutional support to sustain Nigeria’s progress in international volleyball.
Speaking after the meeting, the Director General of the NSC expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the discussions, describing them as productive and a major step towards repositioning volleyball in the country.
He said the FIVB had demonstrated confidence in Nigeria’s potential by offering technical assistance, funding, coaching and other resources to support the growth of the sport.
“The meeting is quite productive, what a fruitful deliberation with the International Volleyball Federation. It gladdens my heart to know that international volleyball has seen Nigeria as one of the greatest in the game. They have offered technical support, funding, coaching and other resources that can aid the development of volleyball in Nigeria,” he said.
He added that Nigeria’s qualification for the Olympic Games in Los Angeles had further strengthened the country’s determination to discover more talents and improve its competitiveness on the international stage.
“With this, we will keep discovering talent; we will not relent in our efforts,” he stated.
The Director General assured the FIVB of the Commission’s commitment to a sustainable partnership driven by accountability, transparency and shared development objectives.
He noted that the NSC would provide the necessary institutional support and enabling environment to ensure that the collaboration translated into meaningful benefits for athletes, coaches and other stakeholders in the volleyball sector.
According to him, volleyball remains one of the strategic sports capable of creating employment opportunities, engaging young people, promoting national unity and projecting Nigeria positively on the global sporting scene.
The meeting was attended by the President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Engineer Abu Gumel; its Secretary General, Mr Tunde Popoola; and the President of the International Volleyball Federation.
The FIVB also reaffirmed its readiness to work with the NSC and the Nigeria Volleyball Federation in implementing programmes aimed at improving technical standards, strengthening local competitions and preparing Nigerian teams for continental and international championships.
The partnership is expected to open new opportunities for grassroots participation, improved coaching standards, better funding and enhanced performance by Nigerian volleyball teams at major international competitions.
The NSC reiterated its commitment to leveraging international partnerships to advance sports development and ensure that all sporting disciplines receive the attention and support needed to thrive.
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