Volleyball Exclusion from 2026 NSF Could Cost 1,500 Athletes Their Jobs – Hasso

By Emmanuel Kwada

The North-East representative on the board of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF), DCP Stephen Hasso (Rtd), has warned that the exclusion of volleyball from the 2026 National Sports Festival (NSF) could leave more than 1,500 athletes jobless across the country.

Hasso made the assertion while speaking with journalists in Yola, expressing concern over comments reportedly made by the Director-General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, during an interview in Lagos on May 27, indicating that volleyball would not be included in the biennial sporting event scheduled to hold in Enugu State.

According to him, volleyball remains one of the most active sports federations in Nigeria, consistently engaging athletes through organized competitions and developmental programmes across the nation’s six geopolitical zones.

He argued that the sport has implemented more grassroots development initiatives than several sports currently approved by the National Council of Sports.

“If volleyball fails to feature at the upcoming National Sports Festival in Enugu State, over 1,500 athletes could become jobless at the end of the day,” Hasso said.

“Every state in the federation has a volleyball team, and many of the players are on the payroll of their respective state sports commissions or ministries.”

He cautioned that the proposed exclusion could set a dangerous precedent capable of undermining the growth and development of the sport in Nigeria.

Hasso highlighted the federation’s commitment to grassroots and talent development, noting that the National Division One and Two Volleyball Leagues have been hosted in states including Taraba, Abia, Kaduna, Kwara, and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

He added that the federation has also organized beach volleyball tours in Adamawa and Kaduna States as part of efforts to promote the game nationwide.

“The biggest grassroots volleyball event in the country is organized by the Nigeria Volleyball Federation, and it has been hosted in Kaduna, Niger, Bauchi, and now Bayelsa State,” he said.

The retired police officer further appealed to Directors of Sports and Commissioners for Sports across the country to resist any move that could reverse the gains recorded by the federation under the leadership of Engineer Musa Nimrod.

He maintained that continued support for volleyball is essential to sustaining athlete development, employment opportunities, and the overall growth of the sport in Nigeria.