Nigeria’s national netball team, the Green Hawks, is set for a historic challenge at the 2026 Africa Regional Qualifiers, with Nigeria Netball Federation President Dr. Oluwatoyin Aluko expressing confidence in the team’s preparations and ability to compete for a place at the 2027 Netball World Cup in Sydney.
The Nigerian contingent is scheduled to arrive in Nairobi on September 18, a day before the competition begins, following preparations that have included training in London and valuable international exposure.
Nigeria has been drawn in Pool 2 alongside Uganda, Malawi, Zambia and hosts Kenya, while Pool 1 comprises South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana and Tanzania.
The Green Hawks will open their campaign against Kenya at 7 pm on September 19, before facing Uganda at 6 pm the following day. Nigeria then meets Malawi at 4 pm on September 21 and Zambia at 2 pm on September 22.
Head coach Alison Akinrinsola believes the experience gained from preparations, including international matches against Jamaica, Pakistan and Scotland, has helped strengthen the squad ahead of the Nairobi challenge. Nigeria’s London-based preparations and the appointment of Akinrinsola have formed part of the wider effort to build a competitive national side.
“We have seen where we are, we know the areas we need to improve, and we are working hard to get better,” Akinrinsola said.
“We are not going there just to participate. We are going there to compete and fight for Nigeria.”
Aluko, meanwhile, believes the emergence of the Green Hawks represents a significant step in the Federation’s determination to return Nigerian netball to the international stage.
The NNF president has consistently stressed that international success must be supported by strong structures, with capacity building, improved coaching and officiating forming major pillars of the Federation’s development programme.
For Aluko, the Nairobi campaign provides an opportunity for that rebuilding project to announce itself beyond Nigeria.
“Our ambition is to make Nigeria competitive internationally, and this team represents an important part of that journey. We believe in the players and technical crew, and we want them to go to Nairobi and make Nigeria proud,” Aluko said.
The competition will be played in a round-robin format, with the top two teams from each pool progressing to the semi-finals.
With World Cup qualification at stake, Nigeria knows there will be little room for error.
But with Aluko driving the Federation’s rebuilding programme and Akinrinsola preparing the players for the challenge on court, the message from the Green Hawks camp is unmistakable:
Nigeria is heading to Nairobi to compete, make history and keep the dream of Sydney 2027 alive.
Yusuf Abdullahi Itas, a member of the Bauchi State House of Assembly representing Itas/Gadau State Constituency, has withdrawn from the 2027 general election. Itas, who is seeking re-election on the platform of the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM), announced his decision in a letter dated October 5, 2026, addressed to the party’s state chairman.
In the letter titled, “Withdrawal of Candidature for the Itas/Gadau State Constituency Seat in the Bauchi State House of Assembly,” the lawmaker formally informed the party that he would no longer contest the seat in the 2027 election.
He described his decision as “entirely voluntary and personal”.
He thanked the APM leadership and its members for giving him the opportunity to represent the party.
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Itas also expressed appreciation to residents of the constituency for their encouragement and support during his time in office.
The lawmaker is the Chairman of the House Committee on Petitions and Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
His withdrawal comes less than three weeks after the Bauchi Assembly Chief Whip, Musa Wakili Nakwada, also announced that he would not contest the 2027 elections.
Welcome to Jos Ghetto Stories — a new Jos Events series created to tell the stories that are often overlooked, but should never be forgotten.
From the narrow streets of Gangare, Nasarawa, Angwan Rogo, Jenta-Adamu, Congo-Russia, Tudun Wada, Katako, Dadin Kowa, Bukuru and other communities across Jos, there are children growing up surrounded by challenges many of us may never fully understand.
Some wake up without knowing where their next meal will come from.
Some go to school with torn shoes.
Some live in crowded homes, struggle to afford basic needs, or watch their parents battle every day just to keep the family going.
And some are already beginning to believe that because they were born into hardship, hardship is all life has to offer them.
But we are here to tell them something different.
YOU CAN STILL BECOME GREAT.
Your address does not determine your destiny.
The street you grew up on does not decide the height you can reach.
Poverty may be part of your story, but it does not have to be the final chapter.
Look at Jos.
This city has produced and nurtured people who have gone on to make their mark far beyond the streets where their journeys began.
John Obi Mikel and Ogenyi Onazi, Ahmed Musa went from Jos to becoming aome of Nigeria’s most recognisable footballers, they all grew up from the Ghetto streets of Jos and made it in life through football to the point of representing Nigeria at the highest level.
Jeremiah Gyang, M.I Abaga and Ice Prince carried the sound and creativity of Jos into the Nigerian music industry and beyond.
P-Square and 2Baba are among the major names whose stories are connected to Jos.
Saint Obi,Dayo Okeniyi took their journey from Jos into international acting, while filmmakers Dimbo Atiya and Kenneth Gyang, have used film to tell stories that travel far beyond home.
And there are many more whose names may not yet be famous—but whose stories prove that greatness can rise from ordinary beginnings. 
So when we walk through the streets of Jos and meet these children, we are not looking at “ghetto children.”
We are looking at future doctors, engineers, footballers, musicians, filmmakers, entrepreneurs, teachers, leaders, creatives and nation builders.
We are looking at potential.
We are looking at dreams waiting for an opportunity.
Because sometimes, all a child needs is somebody to look them in the eyes and say:
“I believe in you.”
That is what Jos Ghetto Stories is about.
We will tell the stories of the streets.
We will show the struggles.
We will celebrate the talent.
We will listen to the dreams.
And most importantly, we will remind every young person watching that you can become the best version of yourself, regardless of where you started.
Your parents may not have everything.
Your environment may not be perfect.
You may not have the opportunities others have.
But never allow your circumstances to convince you that you cannot become somebody.
The world may see a child from the slum.
We see a future star.
The world may see a difficult beginning.
We see a story waiting to become extraordinary.
This is Jos Ghetto Stories.
Stories from the streets.
Stories of struggle.
Stories of hope.
Stories of talent.
Stories of resilience.
Stories of people who refuse to let their circumstances define them.
Because from the streets of Jos, greatness can rise.
And perhaps, the next great story is the child standing beside you.