Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, and President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Engineer Habu Gumel, have congratulated the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF), the country’s beach volleyball team and the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, CGC Adewale Adeniyi MFR, following Nigeria’s historic qualification for the beach volleyball event at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Nigeria secured the historic qualification after defeating Morocco 2-0 (21-18, 21-10) in the women’s final of the 2026 African Beach Volleyball Championship in Alexandria, Egypt, on Saturday, August 22.
Olopade commended the NVBF President, Engineer Musa Nimrod, for his leadership and persistence in driving the development of volleyball in Nigeria, while also applauding CGC Adeniyi for his consistent support for the federation and the growth of the sport.
He said: “Congratulations to the Nigeria Volleyball Federation. This is true Federation leadership in true collaboration with the National Sports Commission (NSC). I want to specially thank the Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service, CGC Adewale Adeniyi MFR for this success. We are grateful for your huge investment in volleyball.”
The NSC Director General noted that the achievement reflected the impact of sustained investment, institutional support and commitment to athlete development.
He further congratulated the players and officials of the Nigerian team, stressing that the historic feat had secured Nigeria a place in the Olympic beach volleyball event for the first time and opened a new chapter in the country’s volleyball history.
He said: “The fast growth of Volleyball and Beach Volleyball, is something I have been talking about for months and they are a potential podium team at the Olympics.”
Also congratulating the team, Gumel described the qualification as a landmark achievement for Nigerian sports, particularly beach volleyball, saying the duo of Esther Mbah and Pamela Bawa had made the country proud by securing a historic place at the world’s biggest sporting event.
He said: “This is a remarkable achievement and a proud moment for Nigeria. Esther Mbah and Pamela Bawa have written their names in the history of Nigerian sports, and we are extremely proud of their determination, commitment and hard work.”
The NOC President and International Olympic Committee (IOC) member also applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his administration’s investment in sports development, describing the qualification as a reflection of the President’s support for Nigerian athletes.
Gumel said: “This qualification is a testament to the support of our sports-loving President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We are proud that this historic qualification is happening during his administration.”
He also commended the Chairman and Director General of the National Sports Commission, as well as CGC Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, for their consistent support for the athletes.
He said: “I want to appreciate the Chairman and DG of the National Sports Commission, as well as the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, CGC Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, for their support to these players, which made this achievement and qualification possible. This qualification will serve as a motivation for other sports federations.”
Gumel further commended the President of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation, Engineer Musa Nimrod, who also serves as President of the CAVB Beach Volleyball Commission, for his contribution to the development of the sport.
The qualification also ended a 16-year wait for the NVBF, with the historic victory earning Mbah and Bawa Nigeria’s first-ever Olympic qualification in beach volleyball.
Olopade, Gumel Hail CGC Adeniyi as Nigeria Secures Historic Olympic Beach Volleyball Qualification
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