The President of the Nigeria Catchball Federation, Engr. Bola Babarinde, has reaffirmed the transformative power of sports in driving national development, as he graced a high-level sports engagement tagged Presidential Fitness And and Unity Walk from Unity Fountain to Eagles Square, Abuja.
This remarkable event was held in commemoration of the 2026 International Day of Sports for Development and Peace convened by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports, Hon. Adeyinka Adeboye (Zulu Authority)
The event, which brought together key stakeholders across the sports ecosystem, served as a strategic platform participate in fitness drive and exercise while also creating an avenue to advance conversations around youth engagement, talent discovery and the role of sports in fostering inclusive growth at the community level.
In his remarks at the event, Engr. Babarinde commended the SSA for what he described as a “visionary and timely initiative” aimed at repositioning grassroots sports as a catalyst for national development. He noted that sustained investment in sports at the grassroots remains critical to unlocking Nigeria’s vast human capital potential, particularly among young people.
Highlighting the growing global relevance of Catchball, the Federation President emphasized that the sport holds immense promise not only as a recreational activity but also as a tool for social inclusion, gender empowerment and youth development.
According to him, Catchball’s accessibility and adaptability make it an ideal vehicle for engaging communities, especially young women in underserved areas.
Engr. Babarinde further underscored the socioeconomic benefits of sports, noting that beyond physical wellbeing, sports contribute significantly to job creation, community cohesion and crime reduction. He stressed that with the right policy framework and institutional support, sports can serve as a viable pathway for economic empowerment and sustainable development.
Looking ahead, the Nigeria Catchball Federation President expressed his readiness to partner with the National Sports Commission and other relevant stakeholders to scale the adoption of Catchball across the country. He outlined plans for strategic collaborations focused on capacity building, talent identification and the integration of Catchball into school and community sports programmes.
“We are committed to working closely with government agencies and sports administrators to deploy Catchball as a tool for sustainable and human development. Through structured programmes and partnerships, we can create opportunities for our youth while contributing meaningfully to national growth,” he stated.
The Presidential Fitness And Unity Walk engagement concluded with renewed optimism among participants, as stakeholders collectively pledged to deepen collaboration and explore innovative approaches to harnessing sports for Nigeria’s long-term socioeconomic advancement.
