Former Nigeria international and pioneer of professional handball in Europe, Adeyemi George Osawe, has announced a ₦5,000,000 donation through his Osawe Handball Academy to support grassroots handball development across the Southwest zone.
Osawe made the announcement shortly after the Southwest Zonal Representative election of the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN) and the Federation’s Presidential Election held on Saturday, October 25, 2025, in Abuja.
Despite losing the zonal election to Mr. Gbenga Adewusi Arole of Oyo State by 4 votes to 2, Osawe reaffirmed his deep commitment to advancing handball in the region, emphasizing that the sport’s growth remains his top priority.
“Even though the election did not go in my favor, the development of handball in the Southwest is paramount. I will continue to give my best to ensure that the game attains the height it deserves.”
As part of his renewed commitment, Osawe also announced plans to launch a Southwest Handball Festival—a new annual event aimed at discovering and nurturing young talents, particularly players under 15 years of age. The festival, according to him, will focus on talent identification, mentorship, and youth competition to strengthen the sport’s foundation at the grassroots.
In his remarks, Osawe congratulated Mr. Ojih Jubril Saidu, the newly elected President of the Handball Federation of Nigeria, expressing optimism that handball in Nigeria will continue to grow under his leadership.
Osawe, who remains one of Nigeria’s most respected handball figures, is widely recognized as the first Nigerian to play professional handball in Europe. Through his Osawe Handball Academy, he has consistently supported youth programs, organized tournaments, and promoted grassroots sports initiatives across the Southwest.
His post-election donation and development plans have been widely hailed by stakeholders in the Southwest as a unifying gesture and a call to refocus on the sport’s real priorities—talent development, transparency, and regional growth.
