By Aderonke Ojo
The President of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF), Musa Nimrod, has reaffirmed his commitment to nurturing Nigerian coaches capable of attaining world-class standards in beach volleyball.
He gave the assurance on Saturday in Abuja during the closing ceremony of the Olympic Solidarity Beach Volleyball Coaching Course, a five-day intensive programme jointly organized by the NVBF, the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), and the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB).
The course, held from November 4 to 9, 2025, brought together 25 participants from across the country — including coaches, referees, and technical officials — all eager to deepen their expertise and understanding of the sport.
Engr. Nimrod described the training as a vital investment in Nigeria’s sporting future, emphasizing that by the end of his tenure, at least one of the trained coaches should meet global coaching standards.
“This is a unique environment where coaches can truly advance their skills,” he said. “Opportunities like this are not easy to come by anywhere else in the world. We’ve planted a seed of excellence that must continue to grow. These coaches are our ambassadors, and through their work, Nigeria’s beach volleyball will continue to rise.”
He noted that coaching transcends acquiring certificates, stressing that true professionalism is defined by productivity, results, and the ability to mentor the next generation.
“You cannot simply sit back and call yourself a coach. Your output, contributions, and mentorship of others are what truly matter,” Nimrod added.
All 25 participants successfully completed the course, while 19 earned the prestigious FIVB certification — a recognition of their commitment, competence, and performance throughout the training.
The NVBF President further disclosed plans to introduce a mentorship and mental development programme to pair young coaches with experienced mentors, ensuring continuity, capacity building, and sustained excellence in Nigerian beach volleyball.
Representing the NOC President, Rukayat Dolapo Olaniyan, Administrative and Project Personnel at the NOC, commended the NVBF for its commitment to the Olympic Solidarity initiative and alignment with global development objectives.
“The success of this programme reflects the NOC’s goal of empowering coaches to drive sports development at the grassroots and national levels,” she said.
FIVB International Expert and Olympic silver medalist, Javier Bosma, who served as the course facilitator, praised the participants’ dedication and growth, urging them to immediately apply their knowledge to enhance local training structures.
“The progress these coaches have made in just a few days is commendable. They must now take what they’ve learned and make an impact in their respective communities,” Bosma stated.
For many participants, the programme provided not just a certification but a transformative learning experience. One of the coaches, Laju Isabella, described the course as an “eye-opener” that inspired her to contribute more actively to the development of the sport in Nigeria.
“This has been a rare opportunity to improve my coaching skills and better understand the global standards required in beach volleyball,” she said.
The Olympic Solidarity Beach Volleyball Coaching Course is part of a broader initiative by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to strengthen coaching capacity worldwide in preparation for upcoming international events, including the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.