Intercollegiate games: Badminton Association Chairman hails NSSC, urges investment in youth devt
Intercollegiate games: Badminton Association Chairman hails NSSC, urges investment in youth devt
By Abubakar Hassan
The Chairman of the Niger State Badminton Association, Hon. Muhammad Nma Kolo (Jawon Minna), has commended the Niger State Sports Commission for initiating the maiden Niger State Intercollegiate Games, describing it as a bold step toward restoring the lost glory of sports in the state.
Hon. Nma Kolo made this known during an interview with sports Journalists, at the Minna sports club complex, venue of the racket events of the Intercollegiate Games tagged “Bago Games 2026.”
He particularly applauded the Chairman of the Sports Commission, Hon. Danjuma Abdul Masu, for conceptualizing what he termed a timely and impactful sporting initiative, adding that the games have rekindled hope and excitement among young athletes across the state.
“You can see how happy the youths are, smiling and brimming with enthusiasm. After a long time, they now have the opportunity to compete among themselves again. This is a welcome development and a very good initiative by the Niger State Sports Commission,” he said.
He expressed optimism that the tournament would mark the beginning of greater achievements in the state’s sporting sector.
Speaking on sustainability, the badminton boss emphasized that sports development should not be left solely in the hands of government, and called on well-meaning Nigerlites and private investors to support sporting initiatives, noting that sports has evolved into a lucrative global enterprise capable of empowering youths and promoting peace.
“Sports is now a very lucrative business worldwide. We must invest in the future of our youth so that we can address restiveness and create more opportunities for engagement. I’m calling on good and well-meaning Nigerlites to come and invest in sports,” he urged.
The Badminton Association Chairman further advised the Sports Commission not to rest on its oars but to ensure continuity, stressing that there should be no vacuum in sporting activities in the state.
He also commended the youths for their passion and readiness to participate despite the short notice given for the competition. He described the turnout and level of performance at the intercollegiate games as impressive, noting that young talents have already begun to emerge through the platform.
Looking ahead, he disclosed that preparations are underway to host a major regional badminton championship in Minna.
“Very soon, after the Ramadan fast, we are going to host the first Umar Muhammad Bago North Central Badminton Tournament here in Minna, by the grace of God,” he revealed.
The intercollegiate games, he concluded, have not only uncovered hidden talents but have also reignited the spirit of competitive sports among tertiary institutions in Niger State.
Meanwhile, all the racket events, Badminton, Tennis, and Squash have been concluded with institutions like the State College of Education (Umar Sanda Ahmed College of Education) Minna, Abdulkadir Kure University, Minna (AKUM), IBB University, Lapai, and Newgate University, Minna, dominating the racket games.
