The South-South representative of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation board, Honourable Famous Daunemigha, has condemned the exclusion of volleyball and handball from the list of compulsory sports at the 2026 National Sports Festival (NSF) in Enugu State, describing the decision as an insult to years of investment in the sports.
Daunemigha, who spoke at a press conference in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on Saturday, said volleyball in particular deserved better given its standing as the second most popular sport in the country.
“The exclusion of volleyball from the National Sports Festival is a huge joke and a slap on the face of investors in the sport across the country. Here in the South-South, we have invested massively in the development of volleyball over the years and have produced players who have made the country proud,” he said.
Daunemigha argued that volleyball’s consistent league structure set it apart from many other sports on the NSF programme.
“In the last eight years, volleyball has remained the only sport aside from football that has consistently featured Premier League, Division One and Two competitions, as well as grassroots tournaments. Volleyball is the second most popular sport in the country, which is why it is played in the National Youth Service Corps after football,” he added.
He also pointed to the sport’s continental profile, noting that Nigeria hosted the African Women’s Volleyball Club Championship last year, an event that drew the attendance of First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Beyond volleyball, Daunemigha called for the reinstatement of handball and traditional sports, citing their widespread followership across Nigeria and the African continent.