The Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Handball Association, Jibril Saidu, has called on the federal government to restore the Commonwealth Handball Association (CHA), to its former funding status.
He disclosed this on Monday at the MKO Abiola Stadium during the World Press Conference to mark his election into the CHA.
He said the government should fund the activities of the secretariat having lobbied to have it in Nigeria.
The Secretary added that the government should include the CHA on its annual budget and ensure cash backing of the budgetary provisions for it.
“I called on the president…of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the National Assembly to retore the CHA to its former status when Nigeria includes it in its annual budget,” Saidu said.
Saidu further added that his election into the CHA had brought global recognition to Nigeria.
He however calls for collaboration.
The newly elected Secretary-General of the association said, having worked as the executive director of the CHA for the last five years, “I have a good knowledge of the inner working of the organisation and I am equally prepared for the task ahead.”
He said he would be rolling out a comprehensive programme of activities of the CHA in the next few weeks.
The Secretariat of the CHA held its elective general assembly on Sunday, December 05, 2021, and Saidu was elected unopposed as the new Secretary-General of the association.
He succeeded Maj.-Gen. Ishola Williams (rtd) who was the Secretary-General of the CHA at formation in 1985.
Also, South African Ruth Saunders defeated Steve Neilson of Scotland to become the new president.
In the race for the vice president position, Neuritis Gikaria of Kenya defeated his Ugandan opponent, Mayanja Willy to secure the slot for Africa.
The CHA was established in 1985 with its headquarters in London to develop the game of Handball in the commonwealth.
