…Pledges more developmental programs
By Joel Ajayi
Sponsoring sports tournaments in Nigeria brings numerous benefits to youth development, as demonstrated by the recently concluded 2024 Nigeria Volleyball Premier League (NVPL).
The tournament, sponsored by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, in collaboration with the Volleyball Federation, provided opportunities for over 700 Nigerian youths to participate and benefit.
The 2024 NVPL, divided into two thrilling phases, concluded at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, with winners in the male and female categories taking home over ₦24 million in prize money.
At the finals in Abuja, the male category winners received ₦10 million, while the second- and third-place teams were awarded ₦6 million and ₦4 million, respectively. The female category followed the same prize structure, ensuring parity between genders.
Speaking during the presentation of prizes and trophies on Saturday, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi emphasized the tournament’s positive impact on Nigerian youths and pledged to continue supporting similar initiatives in 2025.
“We are not only proud to sponsor this tournament but also proud of the support from the Volleyball Federation and the entire volleyball community,” he said.
“These past two weeks have been filled with excitement and entertainment. Watching young talents demonstrate such skill and dedication has been truly inspiring. The admiration and enthusiasm from the crowd confirm that this has been a resounding success.”
Highlighting the importance of the tournament, CGC Adeniyi noted: “This event involved about 10 female and 10 male teams, which means nearly 600 athletes from across Nigeria participated. Beyond the players, there were coaches, officials, and federation members who played key roles in making this happen. This tournament has positively engaged so many people, taking them away from crime-prone activities and channeling their energy into sports and development.
“Furthermore, it creates a platform for discovering talents who can represent Nigeria on the international stage. In the past few years, our teams have struggled to qualify for major tournaments, but I believe this initiative marks a turning point.”
On revitalizing the Customs volleyball teams, he acknowledged the challenges of aging players and the need for fresh talent.
“For any team to succeed, youthful energy and determination are essential. We will return to the drawing board, inject new talent into our male and female teams, and ensure they are ready for next season. We are also planning to host more tournaments in Nigeria and will work hard to present strong, competitive teams capable of becoming champions again.”
The President of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation, Engineer Musa Nimrod, expressed gratitude to CGC Adeniyi for his unwavering support for the sport.
“We deeply appreciate the CGC for coming to our aid and sponsoring this Premier League. Public-private partnerships like this are vital for sports development, and this collaboration has been exceptional. With this level of support, I am confident we will achieve even greater milestones in 2025,” Nimrod said.
At the conclusion of the 2024 NVPL, the Nigeria Customs Service team emerged victorious in the women’s category, while the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) team claimed the championship in the men’s category.
