Opening ceremony of the first Archery Centre in Africa (Abuja – NGR).
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has identified sports as a strategic tool for strengthening national security, promoting social cohesion and improving civil-military relations in Nigeria.
Shaibu stated this on Sunday, October 11, 2026, during the closing ceremony of the 15th TIZOCATA International Open Archery Tournament, held at the Nigerian Army Conference Centre and Suites, Abuja.
The President of World Archery Africa and Board Member of World Archery, Mr. Tarik Amiry, attended the Opening Ceremony of the Archery Centre in support of archery development in Nigeria and Africa.
According to an official statement signed by Colonel Appolonia Anele, Acting Director of Army Public Relations, the Army Chief said sports go beyond physical fitness and recreation, serving as an instrument for building trust, promoting discipline and fostering mutual understanding among diverse populations.
He noted that sporting activities complement kinetic military operations by strengthening relationships between the military and civilians, promoting peaceful coexistence and contributing to a holistic approach to national security.
The COAS explained that sports provide opportunities for constructive engagement among individuals and groups from different backgrounds, helping to build confidence, encourage cooperation and strengthen the bonds that unite society.
He commended the participating athletes for their discipline, dedication and sportsmanship, noting that international sporting competitions promote talent development, cultural exchange and stronger partnerships among participating countries.
Shaibu reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to supporting sporting initiatives that encourage healthy competition, build public trust and contribute to national development.
The championship, organized by the Nigerian Archery Federation, attracted participants from across Africa and other countries, providing a platform for international sporting cooperation.
Earlier, the President of the Nigerian Archery Federation, Alhaji Mohammed Baba, commended the COAS and the Nigerian Army for supporting the competition and providing the venue.
Baba said such partnerships were essential to the development of archery and the promotion of international sporting cooperation.
15th TIZOCATA International Open Archery Tournament 2026
The tournament was held from 8 to 11 October 2026 at the Nigerian Army Archery Range, NACCAS, Abuja, Nigeria, with 48 athletes participating from nine member associations: ALG, BEN, CIV, GUI, NGR, PAK, TOG, TUN and ZIM.
Notably, a nine-year-old girl representing Pakistan competed against beginner athletes shooting at 18m and won the bronze medal.
A National Judges Course – Level 1 was organized from 5 to 11 October 2026 in Abuja, Nigeria, with 22 participants. Fifteen of them passed the course test and were certified as new National Judges. All participants took part in organizing and judging the 2026 15th TIZOCATA International Open Archery Tournament, gaining valuable practical experience. The course was presented by Dr. Ahmed KOURA, WA International Judge and Judging Expert.
The course was supported by World Archery Africa as part of efforts to raise the standard of archery competitions in Nigeria and across Africa.
Olympic Solidarity Youth Training Camp with Equipment Donation to Athletes
On the sidelines of the 15th TIZOCATA International Open Archery Tournament, World Archery organized the second part of the “Olympic Solidarity Youth Training Camp,” with the participation of seven athletes qualified for the Dakar Youth Olympic Games, which will begin in a few days. These athletes represent ALG, CIV, GUI and TUN.
They also took part in the tournament as the final stage of preparation before the YOG, with the support of Olympic Solidarity.
In addition, each athlete at the camp received a new bow and other accessories as generous support from World Archery, and they began tuning their new equipment under the supervision of Coaching Expert Evann COLLAUD from FRA.
Foam Targets and Target Faces Donation to the Nigeria Archery Federation
As an additional form of support from World Archery Africa (WAAf), a cash donation was presented to the Nigeria Archery Federation to manufacture local foam targets, which will help the federation in organizing both local and international archery events. This contribution is intended to strengthen the federation’s capacity to host competitions on a consistent basis and to reduce its reliance on imported equipment, thereby making event delivery more sustainable and cost-effective over time.
In addition to this, World Archery was able to send target faces in multiple sizes to support the hosting and organization of this international competition. These target faces will be used during the event and will also serve as valuable stock for future competitions, further enhancing the federation’s readiness to stage archery events at both national and international levels. Together, these contributions reflect the continued commitment of World Archery and WAAf to building a solid infrastructure for archery development in Nigeria and across the African continent.
To sum up, five archery development projects took place in Nigeria, which once again proved to be in line with WAAf’s vision of archery development on the Continent. These projects spanned grassroots training, coach education, equipment provision, youth engagement, and archery centre formation, each designed to build a sustainable foundation for the sport across the country. Their successful implementation demonstrated that Nigeria is moving in step with WAAf’s continental strategy, which prioritizes structured development, capacity building, and broad participation as the pillars of archery growth in Africa. Crucially, each of these projects was anchored around the organization of an actual archery event—whether a training camp, a competition, or a demonstration day—because it is through events that theory becomes practice, that coaches and athletes are truly tested, and that communities witness the sport firsthand. Without events, development remains abstract; with them, equipment is used, skills are sharpened, officials gain experience, and momentum is created that attracts new participants and stakeholders.
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