Francis Orbih has been re-elected President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) for a third consecutive term, emerging unopposed at the federation’s elective congress held in Abuja.
Orbih secured all 13 votes cast at the congress, which took place at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium on Monday, March 2. Adamu Alhaji Lawan was also elected as Vice President of the federation.
In his acceptance speech, Orbih congratulated the newly elected board members and expressed confidence in their collective ability to further develop the sport in Nigeria.
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“I congratulate the entire board and I am confident we will deliver,” Orbih said. “There is still a lot of work to be done. We have recorded modest achievements in the past, but now is the time to build on them and take Nigerian badminton to greater heights.”
He also called for unity among stakeholders, urging members of the badminton community to work together to strengthen the federation’s programmes and expand the sport across the country.
“I am counting on everyone’s support because this task cannot be done alone. Let us work together to take the federation to a level where it will be the envy of other sporting bodies in Nigeria,” he added.
During the inauguration of the new board, Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, congratulated Orbih on his re-election and commended the federation for conducting a peaceful and crisis-free electoral process.
“I want to congratulate the board members for unanimously re-electing Francis Orbih and for organising a smooth election,” Dikko said. He also urged the president to consolidate on the gains recorded during his previous tenures and intensify efforts to further develop the sport over the next four years.
Under Orbih’s leadership over the past eight years, badminton in Nigeria has witnessed notable growth in youth development and international participation. One of the highlights of that progress was the achievement of Anuoluwapo Opeyori, who became the first Nigerian badminton player to qualify for two consecutive Olympic Games in 2020 and 2024, building on earlier milestones recorded by Nigeria in the sport.
The federation has also hosted several international championships in Lagos, including the Lagos International Badminton Classics, which has grown into a regular fixture on the global badminton calendar. The eighth edition of the tournament, held in 2025, featured more than 200 athletes from across the world.
Orbih’s re-election is expected to provide continuity as the federation seeks to strengthen Nigeria’s presence in international badminton and expand grassroots development programmes nationwide.
