Joel Ajayi
The newly elected member of Badminton World Council Seat and President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), Francis Orbih, has stated that his recent election into the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Council will significantly contribute to the growth and development of badminton in Nigeria and Africa.
Speaking to Journalists on Friday in Abuja, Orbih described the victory as a major step forward for the sport in the region.
“Securing this position is a great development for the growth of badminton in Nigeria and across Africa,” he said.
However, he was quick to clarify the scope of his new role. “When I was campaigning for the position, I initially thought I would be representing Nigeria or Africa. But we were made to understand that once elected, you no longer represent just your country or continent—you represent the world,” he explained.
Orbih is now one of only two Africans serving on the 20-member BWF Council, a body tasked with shaping global policies and making key decisions to drive the sport forward.
“Our focus is to create and implement policies that will enable rapid growth and global development of the game,” he said. “And when progress happens at that level, it positively affects everyone—every country and every continent.”
He expressed optimism about the future, noting the impressive calibre of individuals on the current BWF Council.
“The people in this council give me a lot of confidence. I believe we’re going to build on what has already been achieved and push the sport to greater heights. The outlook is very positive,” Orbih concluded.
