The competition for top honours at the second edition of the National School Volleyball Championship has grown fiercer as teams from nine states battled in closely fought encounters on Wednesday.
The tournament is being held at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, Lagos, and features secondary school teams from across the country.
Organised by the Nigeria School Sport Federation in collaboration with the Nigeria Volleyball Federation, and backed by the Lagos State Sports Commission, the four-day championship is aimed at discovering young talents and selecting players who will represent Nigeria at the International School Sport Federation World School Volleyball Championship in China scheduled for July 1 to 10.
Participating states include Lagos, Ondo, Ekiti, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Bayelsa, Adamawa, and Bauchi, with teams competing in both boys’ and girls’ categories. In total, 28 teams are taking part—18 in the boys’ division and 10 in the girls’ category.
The venue has been filled with enthusiastic students and supporters, adding colour and excitement to the second edition of the event.
President of the Nigeria School Sport Federation, Olabisi Joseph, commended the energy displayed by participating schools and reaffirmed the body’s commitment to developing volleyball talent through school sports.
She noted that strong collaboration with the Nigeria Volleyball Federation has ensured international-standard organisation, including the involvement of experienced officials to oversee the matches.
According to her, the partnership is expected to produce skilled athletes who can represent the country effectively on the global stage.
She also appreciated the support of NVBF President Musa Nimrod and the Lagos State Sports Commission.
Chairman of the Lagos State Volleyball Association, Kayode Ladele, described the collaboration as a major boost to the competition and a reflection of Lagos’ capacity to host major sporting events.
Technical adviser to the Nigeria Volleyball Federation, Martin Melandi, said technical input at the championship would help identify the best talents for international competitions.
In the inaugural edition held in Abuja, host teams won both the boys’ and girls’ titles, with standout players later representing Nigeria at the 2025 ISF Championship.
The championship continues on Thursday, while the finals and closing ceremony are scheduled for Friday.