Badminton stakeholders in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have outlined ambitious plans to deepen the sport’s reach and strengthen its grassroots structures, with Bappa Muhammad Usman and aspiring board member Daniel Dibal advocating greater investment in youth development and infrastructure.
The renewed focus comes as preparations continue for elections into various sports association boards in the FCT, with badminton administrators and enthusiasts keen to build on the sport’s recent successes.
Chairman of the FCT Badminton Association’s caretaker committee, retired Comptroller Bappa Usman, said the territory has become one of Nigeria’s leading centres for badminton development, producing athletes who have excelled at national and international competitions.
According to him, the FCT’s commitment to identifying and nurturing young players has yielded impressive results, with many of the athletes who recently represented Nigeria at the Africa Youth Games having been trained in Abuja.
Usman described the achievement as evidence of the sport’s growing maturity in the territory and revealed plans to expand talent discovery programmes across the six area councils. He said the initiative would involve structured training programmes for young players, culminating in competitions that would provide opportunities for outstanding talents to feature in the Minister’s Cup.
Despite the progress recorded, he lamented the limited support available to the association, noting that administrators and stakeholders have largely financed activities themselves. He called on government agencies, corporate organisations and private individuals to support badminton’s development, stressing that the sport has the potential to attract widespread participation and produce future champions.
As a new board prepares to take charge, Usman urged incoming officials to sustain ongoing programmes and build on the foundations already laid to ensure continued growth.
Echoing the call for grassroots expansion, board aspirant Daniel Dibal pledged to increase public awareness of badminton and broaden participation through partnerships with schools and local communities.
Dibal said one of his priorities would be introducing the sport to more schools across the FCT’s municipal and area councils, thereby creating a steady pipeline of young players. He believes greater exposure at an early age will help transform badminton into a more accessible and popular sport among children and teenagers.
He also identified inadequate court facilities as a major challenge and proposed securing sponsorships from companies and organisations to support the construction of badminton courts in schools. Beyond infrastructure, Dibal said the programme would include coaching and mentorship initiatives designed to help young players progress from beginner level to competitive standards.
While Usman emphasises continuity and consolidation of existing achievements, Dibal’s vision focuses on expanding participation and infrastructure. Together, their positions reflect a shared determination to make grassroots development the cornerstone of badminton’s future in the Federal Capital Territory.
With elections approaching and development plans taking shape, stakeholders hope the next phase of leadership will translate these ambitions into tangible progress for one of the FCT’s fastest-growing sports.
