By Emmanuel Kwada
In a powerful New Year message, Engr Musa Nimrod, the President of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation, has welcomed the Nigeria Volleyball Community into the year 2025, highlighting the federation’s achievements and aspirations. The message, which was released on January 1, 2025, is a testament to Engr Nimrod’s revolutionary leadership and vision for the sport.
Under Engr Nimrod’s leadership, the Nigeria Volleyball Federation has experienced unprecedented growth and development. The federation has hosted several international events, including the African U17 girls championship and the Beach Presidents’ Cup, and has made significant strides in grassroots development. The National Volleyball Premier League has also gotten a sponsor for the first time in several years, with players being made the centerpiece of the sponsorship.
Engr Nimrod’s commitment to the sport is evident in his message, where he expresses his gratitude to all volleyball enthusiasts, including players, coaches, referees, and administrators. He also acknowledges the challenges faced by the federation, including the lack of funding and the abysmal performance of the national team in the African Games.
His gratitude to all volleyball enthusiasts, including players, coaches, referees, and administrators
Despite these challenges, Engr Nimrod remains optimistic about the future of the sport in Nigeria. He announces his appointment as the President of the African Beach Commission and the appointment of Nigeria’s international representative as the President of the FIVB Financial Commission. These appointments are a great feat for the country and Africa in general, and Engr Nimrod hopes that they will transmit into a holistic growth of the game.
The Nigeria Volleyball Federation’s aspirations for the year 2025 are ambitious, with the goal of making the podium of the next African Games, winning the sole ticket for Beach Volleyball for the Olympics of 2028 and Youth Olympic Games 2026, and hosting international events in Nigeria. Engr Nimrod calls on all stakeholders to put their hands and hearts together to grow volleyball in Nigeria, emphasizing that everyone has a role to play in the development of the sport.
Engr Musa Nimrod’s leadership and vision for the Nigeria Volleyball Federation are a shining example of what can be achieved with dedication, passion, and commitment. As the federation embarks on a new journey in 2025, it is clear that Engr Nimrod will continue to be a driving force behind the growth and development of the sport in Nigeria.
The federation embarks on a new journey in 2025, it is clear that Engr Nimrod will continue to be a driving force behind the growth and development of the sport in Nigeria
FULL TEXT OF THE MESSAGE:
“It is with great joy I write to you all this message. Seeing the end of another year and the beginning of a new one is a privileged by divine favor, which requires thanksgiving in many ways.
“The end of 2023/2024 calendar year remains one of the most challenging in the history of this administration. The past one year marked an era of dramatic change in global, continental, and National Volleyball. Nigeria is not an exception to change in the growth of the sport.
My profound gratitude goes to all volleyball enthusiasts, including Players (active and inactive) Coaches, Referees and Administrators as well as Club Owners and Managers
“My profound gratitude goes to all volleyball enthusiasts, including Players (active and inactive) Coaches, Referees and Administrators as well as Club Owners and Managers, spread in the four corners of our beloved country and the African continent. Words alone can not express my appreciation. I am truly humbled by the support and encouragement from all of you.
“Words alone can not express my appreciation. I am truly humbled by the support and encouragement from all of you.
“The end of 2023/2024 calendar year was birthed with the hosting of the African U17 girls championship.
“It was an interesting experience for young athletes from Nigeria, Egypt, and Cameroon. Nigeria clutches a spot in the world girls’ championship but could not appear as a result of the unavailability of funds.
“The Yenegoa gathering of grassroots or amateur players was a huge success as young players from across the country converged for a championship, an event inspired by one of our own.
“As stated in the annual Nigeria Volleyball Federation’s calendar, last year Beach Presidents’ Cup was hosted in kaduna with up to 40 teams participating in different categories of senior, U19 and U17 male and female. Nigeria is gradually becoming the hub of Beach Volleyball in Africa.
The National Volleyball Premier League got a sponsor for the first time after several years
“This can be attested from the podium finish at the African Games, a first since 2015. This achievement by two teenage girls was a testimony of our investment and commitment to grassroots volleyball.
“The National Volleyball Premier League got a sponsor for the first time after several years.
“Our appreciation goes to the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service. This is a celebrated feat as players were made the center piece of the sponsorship.
“To further buttress the vision for making the sponsorship players oriented, the winning prize was the highest in the history of volleyball in Nigeria. This is in addition to the grants given to players and clubs in each of the phases.
“The National Division 1 and 2 leagues also got a boost from the government of Abia State.
We hope for greater involvement and more funding from public and private entities that are interested in youths and sports development
“Gradually, we hope for greater involvement and more funding from public and private entities that are interested in youths and sports development.
“Our junior National teams, u17 boys and girls participated in the CAVB Zone 3 championship held in Benin where they emerged Winners for both gender.
“One of the consistent programs of this administration is the National Beach Volleyball Tour.
“The two Zonal Representatives; south west and north east are instrumental in making sure these events are held in their respective zones. Key to this is the collaboration with the Bauchi State Government for the Beach Volleyball Tour.
“2024 was an elective year for international volleyball, and Nigeria is a beneficiary of both CAVB and FIVB crucial positions that precede the congresses. 2025 will be an elective year that will produce another Board of Administration for NVBF.
It is with a humble heart I announce that I was appointed as the President of the African Beach Commission
“It is with a humble heart I announce that I was appointed as the President of the African Beach Commission, while our international Representative is now the President, of the FIVB Financial Commission.
“This is a great feat for the country and Africa in general. Our earnest desire is to see how these positions will transmit into a holistic growth of the game, first in Nigeria, the sub region, and the continent as a whole.
“However, we had many rough edges in our story for the 2024 calendar year.
“One of such bitterexperiencese is Nigeria missing the sole Olympic ticket in the female category. Making it the third time we came as runner up in the same quest.
“The abysmal performance of team Nigeria in volleyball event, in the African Games, in Accra was also a sad reality to bear.
“Our men and women teams did not meet expectations despite the support they got from the Federation and other stake holders. Thisleadsd to reforms in the technical crew that will oversee a new national team for future engagement.
We saw reconciliation and unity of purpose from all angles
“Nigeria Volleyball Federation remains iconic in the comity of Federations in Nigeria, despite the frictions, our passion for the game does not allow personal sentiment to derail the progress of the game. We saw reconciliation and unity of purpose from all angles.
We pray for more progress.
“Our Aspirations As we embark on yet another journey for this year, we hope to step up our commitment to our sport , to pursue excellence that will help us drive home these objectives.
- Make the podium of the next African Games
- Win the sole ticket for Beach Volleyball , for the Olympics of 2028 and Youth Olympic Games 2026
- Hope for a title sponsor for our divisional leagues, President Cup as well as the Beach tour.
- Participate in World and African championship. Nigeria will host the African Women Club Championship in Africa
- Host international events in Nigeria
- Set up a viable mechanism that will consolidate the technical capacity of our coaches and improve the capacity of our Referees. FIVB approved 2 International Coaches for Volleyball and Beach for 12 month calendar program.
“We can not do it alone without you all. We are all part of the Federation, as players, Coaches, Referees, Administrators, sponsors or enthusiasts. There are different ways to play a role to grow the sport.
“Let’s put our hands and hearts together and grow volleyball”.