The Francis Ibhawoh Foundation recently held a secondary school badminton outreach training for games masters and mistresses in Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area of Edo state. The event which was held in collaboration with the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), Edo State Ministry of Education, and Edo State Sports Commission was powered by CSED (Community Sport and Educational Development) Initiative. 

 

The two-day training event which was held at the indoor hall of Esan Model Grammar School on 22nd- 23rd January, 2025, was attended by Physical Education Teachers from twenty-three secondary schools, as well as, sixty-nine students, who learned the basics of the game of badminton under the close supervision of three “Shuttle Time” trained badminton coaches, Godswill Ifejika, Olalekan, Fajimiyo, and Blessing Osayomwanbo.

The badminton outreach for secondary schools’ project is designed to teach games masters and mistresses and the students, the basic skills in Badminton. It is one of the rare training event 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 in his remarks stated, "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. 

Another coach, Olalekan Fajimiyo, commended the schools for their massive turnout and their show of passion displayed. Adding that it was one outreach with very high numbers of participants in attendance at the grassroots level.

Declaring the event closed, the Commissioner of 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 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 Francis Ibhawoh Foundation for bringing badminton to their door step, while she expressed the hope that other prominent sons and daughters of Esanland will strive to bring pro-social activities that will have positive impact on the people of Esanland. 

The highlight of the outreach training was the presentation of basic badminton equipment (rackets, nets & shuttles) to all the twenty-three secondary schools that participated in the outreach training courtesy of Francis Ibhawoh Foundation and CSED Initiative. 

It would be recalled that in the past three years, Badminton Federation of Nigeria, has embarked on using the outreach training and their 'Shuttle Time' trainings, to spread the development of the games in different towns and cities in Nigeria. 

This has made BFN to be the most students and teachers friendly sports Federation in Nigeria. As the BFN has also taken the game to IDPs Camp Uhogua and specifically trained asylum seekers/refugees on how to play badminton in Ogoja, Cross River State.