THE HISTORY OF HANDBALL IN NIGERIA

Submitted by

OLASUPO ADEWALE
JSS 2B Mission City College Dutse-Alhaji, Abuja, FCT

15th October, 2012

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The Game of handball was introduced to Nigeria in the year 1972 by the National Sports Commission (NSC). In this same year, the Handball Association of Nigeria (HAN) was formed. This later became affiliated to the International Handball Federation (IHF). The Association in Nigeria is currently known as Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN). The Federation is currently under the leadership of Dr. Alhaji Ahmed Adamu Muazu as the president. Nigerian Participation in Handball competitions however started in 1973. Students were picked from different secondary Schools across the federation and were prepared for the All African Games which took Place in Lagos, Nigeria. These students were assisted by the commission to prepare for the games by providing them with a German coach who prepared them for the competition. They subsequently represented the country at the event of 1973 in Lagos. Since 1972 the game has become popular and today, the game of handball is played in most schools in Nigeria. Fig. 1 on page 3 shows the diagram of a handball pitch.

References 1. Ogundairo D. O, 2011: Essentials of Physical and Health Education for Junior Secondary Schools (Book 2), pp. 5354.
2.

International Handball www.info/TheIHF/Continental FederationofNigeria/tabid/4497/Default.aspx

Federation,

Fig. 1: Diagram of a Handball Pitch

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