COAS Backs Hosting of Africa’s First Indoor Archery Championship in Nigeria
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has directed the Nigerian Army to begin preparations towards hosting the proposed African Indoor Archery Championship in Nigeria.
Shaibu gave the directive on Thursday, October 8, 2026, during a meeting with a delegation from World Archery Africa and the Nigeria Archery Federation (NAFED) at Army Headquarters, Abuja.
The delegation, led by NAFED President Mohammed Baba Abdullahi, was at the Army Headquarters to strengthen collaboration on archery development and explore greater opportunities for Nigeria to host major continental competitions.
The COAS said the Nigerian Army’s involvement in archery goes beyond sports, noting that the discipline promotes qualities such as focus, marksmanship and discipline, which are also essential to military professionalism.
He therefore directed the Chief of Training to commence planning for the proposed championship at the Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery facility.
Abdullahi, in his remarks, praised the Nigerian Army for providing a standard dedicated archery pitch, which he described as the first of its kind in Africa within a military formation.
He also revealed that military archers recently accounted for all of Nigeria’s medals at the African Championship, describing the achievement as evidence of the Army’s growing strength in the sport.
The President of World Archery Africa, Mr. Amine, also commended the Nigerian Army for its sponsorship, infrastructure and hospitality.
He appealed to the Army to support Nigeria’s bid to host Africa’s first Indoor Archery Championship, describing the collaboration between the Army and the archery bodies as a model for advancing sports development across the continent.
