South-South Archery Connection: Nigeria Police Synergy Drives Technical Growth in Asaba

Asaba, the capital of Delta State, came alive in February with the successful organization of the Nigerian South-South Archery Mini Tournament and Technical Training, an initiative implemented in strategic synergy with the Archery Sports unit of the Nigerian Police Force.

The programme, proudly sponsored by the AKOGAA Sports Foundation and supported by the Edo State Archery Association and the Delta State Archery Association, marked a significant step forward in the development of archery in the South-South region of Nigeria.

Technical capacity meets competitive excellence
Designed to combine learning with practical application, the event provided strong technical capability development along with competitive engagement and institutional collaboration. Participants included coaches, technical officials, administrators and athletes from various South-South states.

Key objectives of the program included strengthening the technical proficiency of coaches and officials, standardizing refereeing and safety procedures, promoting synergy between civilian archery bodies and Nigeria Police Archery Sports, providing competitive exposure through a mini tournament and recognizing outstanding contributors to sports development.

A dedicated technical training synergy session focused on critical areas such as equipment inspection and maintenance, course setup and safety management, shooting techniques and scoring systems, competition rules and officiating standards, as well as administrative coordination for structured tournaments.
Police-civilian synergy drives professionalism.

The collaboration with Nigeria Police Archery Sports reinforced institutional discipline, professionalism and best practices aligned with national sports development objectives. According to the organizers, the association stressed the importance of structured systems and safety awareness in the growth of the sport.

Mini Talent Showcase Tournament
After the technical sessions, a mini tournament was organized to practically apply the knowledge acquired. The competition featured structured shooting rounds, certified range safety protocols, standardized scoring systems, and men’s and women’s categories.

The best were rewarded with medals, recognizing excellence in precision, consistency and competitive resilience:

Gold medalists: exceptional discipline and technical superiority
Silver Medalists: High Level Competitive Performance
Bronze medalists: commendable skill and endurance
The medal awards reflected the growing technical level and competitive preparation of the region.

Honors for stakeholders in sports development
As part of the ceremony, awards and medals were presented to outstanding personalities and institutions for their contributions to sport and institutional development. Categories included Distinguished National Sports Leadership Awards, Technical Excellence Awards, Strategic Sports Development Awards and Institutional Support and Synergy Awards.

Appreciations and recognitions
The organizers expressed their deep gratitude to the Nigeria Police Archery Association and CP Hassan GS, mni, Chairman, Nigeria Police Archery Department, for their leadership and commitment to the development of the grassroots sport.

Gratitude was also expressed to AKOGAA Sports Foundation and Chief Agabi James, Vice President of Edo and Delta States Archery Associations, for their patronage and unwavering support.

Special recognition went to technical collaborators and partners including Princess Olayemi, Head Coach of the Rivers State Archery Association, Eng. Jesford O. and Mr. Moisés.

🎯 Guest speakers
SP Moses Matthias – Archery Consultant and Vice President of the Nigerian Police Archery Department
SP Akogun AA – Archery Consultant and Technical Director, Nigerian Police Archery
Their experience significantly enriched the technical sessions and inspired the participants.

The organizers reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the development of archery throughout the South-South region and beyond, noting that the Asaba program constitutes a model of effective collaboration between civil sports bodies and security institutions.