The Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Handball Association, Mr. Jibril Ojih Saidu, has stated that his vision is to reposition Nigeria Handball from the grassroots for profitable and sustainable development in line with global best practices.
Mr. Saidu who currently serves as a member of the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN) who spoke during an interview at the weekend with Journalists said if elected, he will ensure transparency and innovative approach in administering the sports.
He said, “Change is constant. My dream as president is to remodel handball for a better tomorrow.
“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, presently the President of the Mega Handball Veterans of Abuja, 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.
Mr. Saidu, a very passionate and dynamic administrator, is determined to open a new vista for the game of handball through the training and retraining of coaches, officiating officials and open the door for more Nigerians to get international recognition.
“The youth and women will find joy in the new look Handball Federation that we hope to build. We will encourage and help the young ones to combine the game with their secular education,” Jibril Saidu, an international arbiter emphasised.
Nigeria is currently ranked 5th on the continent with 38.4 ranking points and Jibril Saidu’s ’ goal is to make the country the number one within the next few years.