Dipo Kehinde/
The game of Archery in Nigeria has received another string to its bow with the appointment of new arrowheads to direct its course.
Determined to advance the game, the Lagos State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, has set up a team of men with a passion for the sport in the Lagos State Archery Association.
Among the members of the Board are a leading light in the World of Archery and Gold Medalist in Festive Senior Windsor, Mr Oladipupo Alapini, who has trained about 100 Archers in Lagos and has done much to bring the game into the limelight in Nigeria, and Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Bode Ojajuni, who had received commendations for his passionate interest in sports development in Lagos.
NewsmakersNG learnt from the appointment letters signed by the Executive Chairman, Lagos State Archery Association, Mr Kweku Adedayo Tandoh, that Ojajuni would lead the government team as Chairman and Alapini would serve as a member.
Centuries after changing its association with hunting and combat to a competitive sport and recreational activity, Archery is making new advances around the world.
Ambode’s appointment is yet another arrow in Alapini’s quiver.
Alapini, in a statement, gave NewsmakersNG a bit of the history of Archery in Nigeria and how he has been able to put it in the foreground of public attention.
His words: “The game of Archery is relatively a new Sport in Nigeria, the new Federation Board (NAFED) Nigeria Archery Federation was reconstituted within the second Quarter of 2016, saddled with the responsibility of developing and promoting the Sport throughout the Country. To the glory of God, I approached the Federation for partnership and finally established the Lekki Archery Club, having satisfied the requirements as stipulated by the rules.
“It is obvious that the Game is still being groomed and Athletes are beginning to show interest in the Sport. As of January 2018, an average Nigerian hardly know if the game of Archery ever exists. I came into the country last year November 2018 and started to create awareness and publicity about the game. In the cause of creating Archery awareness, I was able to set up an Archery club in Lekki-Lagos. Though the journey so far has not been an easy task, coupled with different challenges here and there. Nevertheless, we are making progress slowly, but surely the game of archery has more awareness particularly in Lagos and its environs.
“I am happy that today in Nigeria, some state governments have accepted Archery as a sport with established Association Boards. This is a positive development that I cherish, therefore, the Games has come to stay. Coupled with the efforts of the Federation between February to October 2018, my Club has trained about 100 students in the basic skills and art of Archery.
“This includes Cadets, Junior and Senior (Male and Female). So far I have been able to set up 2 Archery clubs in Lagos. (Lekki Archers Club) and a joint partnership with Zone 2 Police Archery Association. In October 2018, in recognition of my efforts and contribution to archery development in Lagos, the Lagos State Sports Commission appointed me as a Board member of Lagos State Archery Association. The inauguration date of the board by the Executive Governor of Lagos is yet to be announced.
“Also just two days ago, 10th November 2018 we had our own “NAFED President” in the person of Alhaji Mohammed Abdullahi from Nigeria elected as Executive Council Member on board of the Federation of African Archery (FAA). Winning with a landslide victory over his counterpart from Chad and Guinea.
“With this development, Alhaji Abdullahi will be representing West and Central Africa on the board. I am also happy to say that the Nigeria Police has approved the inclusion of archery as a competitive sport in Police Games Festival starting with Archery Demonstration in this year’s festival which was originally slated for November 2018 in Imo State but had to be postponed because of elections. The President of NAFED is also making frantic effort to ensure that Archery is included in the next National Sports Festival in Nigeria on a demonstration basis in Abuja by December 2018. “The word Demonstration is used when a new sport is about to be introduced into any sporting games or festivals”. In view of these achievements within a short period of time, we will be reaching out to individuals, corporate bodies and media organizations for support and sponsorship in the coming year in other to start organizing Archery competitions and capacity building programmes within Nigeria. I will like to use this opportunity to thank all my friends in the media and entertainment industry who have been very supportive in the area of publicity. Thank you very much. To all my Brotherhood-in-archery in Europe especially the Republic of Ireland and in the United Kingdom, my profound gratitude to you all for imparting the knowledge and skills of archery in🏹 me.
“I will soon be coming knocking on your doors for more skills acquisition, technical-know-how and supports for continual development of archery in my country. I look forward to your wonderful and usual support. Thank you.”
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