Jibril Ojih Saidu, a veteran sports
administrator and the current Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Handball
Association, has declared his ambition to run for the office of President of
the Nigerian Handball Federation (NHF), pledging to usher in a new era of
innovation, transparency, and grassroots development if elected.
Saidu, who also serves as the North
Central Board Member of the Handball Federation of Nigeria and President of the
Mega Handball Veterans of Abuja, spoke in an exclusive online interview with
journalists ahead of the much-anticipated NHF elections scheduled for August 15
at the MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.
Responding to questions about his
motivation and vision, Saidu stated that “Change is constant. My dream as
president is to remodel handball for a better tomorrow.” He acknowledged
the efforts of past leaders but emphasised the need to align the sport with
global technological advancements and administrative reforms.
“Much has been contributed by many
past leaders, but much is equally expected with the new technological
innovations in handball techniques and administration,” he said. “Playing alone is just one aspect; there’s a
whole ecosystem around innovations, planning, and coordination that we must
embrace.”
Saidu boast a robust resume
rooted in both local and international handball administration. He is the
second Nigerian in history to occupy the position of Secretary General of the
Commonwealth Handball Association, succeeding the long-serving General Ishola
Williams (rtd.). A Fellow of the Society of Nigerian Surveyors and a former
handball player himself, Saidu has long championed handball on multiple
fronts, joining technical knowledge with a deep understanding of leadership.
When asked what distinguishes him
from other contenders, Saidu responded confidently:
“Interest, quietness, sincerity,
openness, and transparency. These qualities are what I bring to the table.”
Outlining his priorities if elected,
Saidu pledged to focus on improving player welfare, infrastructure, and
equipment accessibility.
“We must think of the interest of
the players. In the first 100 days, we would provide more handballs, upgrade
training facilities, and construct more handball courts. Basic game
requirements must reach those who need them,”
he asserted.
He also spoke about his grassroots
agenda, which includes a decentralised leadership structure that empowers zones
and local governments.
“The leadership must go back to the
grassroots. Zonal reps will be treated as zonal presidents with clear mandates.
We want each zone to grow its own talent pool and contribute to national team
development,” he said.
On technical growth, Saidu admitted
the current deficiency in coaching and officiating capacities and promised to
seek international support.
“We’ll request technical assistance
from the Confederation of African Handball (CAHF) and the International
Handball Federation (IHF). We’ll implement a ‘Train the Trainer’ model so
knowledge trickles down to the grassroots,”
he explained, citing his international connections as a major asset.
Saidu also revealed plans to
reintegrate the military and paramilitary forces, who were once the bedrock of
Nigerian handball.
According to the timeline released
by the National Sports Commission, nomination forms will be available from
August 1 and must be submitted by August 4, 2025. Zonal representative
elections are set for August 9, while the general elections and inauguration
will be held on August 15 at the MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.
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