‎By Hosea Parah

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‎Nigeria has created its first local World Rugby educators as the country develops its rugby coaching and refereeing structures.

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‎This will enable the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF) to reduce reliance on foreign educators for technical programmes as the country’s technical experts conduct similar programmes locally.

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‎World Rugby East and Southern Africa Game Growth Manager, Robert Bwari, said as much while addressing participants at a technical development programme organised by the NRFF in Abuja.

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‎“I am happy about the level Nigeria has reached in the past years. Now Nigeria has World Rugby educators who can train coaches and referees locally,” Bwari said.

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‎He said World Rugby was ready to continue to offer its supervision as the local educators take charge of technical development in Nigeria.

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‎The three-day programme, which was on coaching, match officiating, first aid in rugby and safeguarding, attracted about 80 participants.

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‎NRFF President, Ademola Are, urged the participants to go back and impact their communities by sharing what they learned.

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‎“Go back and impact your communities because rugby needs you. Without you, rugby cannot make headway,” Are said.

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‎The federation’s board member and World Rugby-certified instructor, Wuraola Hussain said the programme would provide a solid technical foundation for the sport in Nigeria.

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‎She said the participants would share what they learned with their communities and states and take Nigerian rugby to the next level.

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‎The NRFF has continued to invest in technical education as it seeks to grow the game beyond its epicenters and boost Nigeria’s competitiveness on the continent and the globe.