By Emmanuel Afonne
The General-Secretary of the newly inaugurated Nigeria Netball Federation, Esther Aluko has said that the federation would unveil a five-year plan aimed at developing the sport at the grassroots.
Aluko told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday, that their major target was to participate at the African Games scheduled for Ghana in 2024.
“The five-year plan will be unveiled in two week’s time and we want to leave a legacy that other federations will emulate,” she said.
Aluko said that the plan when in place would not be administered the way other federations did.
She said that the federation would be administered like a corporate entity because of the experience of the people on board.
The president said the postponement of the African Games by host Ghana, is a blessing in disguise, as it will afford the federation to plan better.
“Netball is an event that will feature at the African Games but the ministry needs to inform the Olympic Committee to register Nigeria for participation.
“Netball has been registered officially at the Corporate Affairs Commission by the Federal Government following the mandate given by the Federal Ministry of Sports.
“So, the Chairman is working on it presently and you know the games would have been held this year but was postponed,“ he said.
Aluko said that when the list of events Nigeria will participate in was submitted, their federation was not on board.
He said that the postponement of the games was an advantage for them as it had afforded them the opportunity to be included in the games.
“Will be granted access because apart from South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, any country coming from West Africa will be gladly accepted to be part of it.
“Again, we have been working for years to be part of the Commonwealth Netball and we are hopeful that our country will be included,” Aluko said.
Aluko said: “Netball was in Nigeria in the 60s and 70s and I played the game but because there was no structure and federation to coordinate its activities, it collapsed.
NAN reports that Netball featured at the 21st National Sports Festival in December in Asaba, Delta as a demonstration sport which saw Team Okowa defeat Team Dare by 11-7 points. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
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Edited by Joseph Edeh
