The President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Engineer Habu Gumel, on Friday evening hosted a special dinner in honour of the visiting President of the Commonwealth Handball Association (CHA), Mrs. Ruth Noluthando Saunders, in Abuja.

The dinner, held in a warm and convivial atmosphere, was attended by top members of the NOC Executive Committee, officials of the Commonwealth Handball Association, and board members of the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN), led by its President, Mr. Jibril Saidu Ojih.

Representing Engineer Gumel, the Assistant General Secretary of the NOC, Alhaji Mohammed Abdulahi, expressed delight at hosting the CHA delegation and commended the HFN for its continued commitment to the growth of handball in Nigeria.

“It is always a pleasure to host friends of Nigerian sports, and this visit by Mrs. Saunders and her team shows that Nigeria remains a key player in the Commonwealth sports family,” said Alhaji Abdulahi. “We will continue to support handball and all federations committed to excellence and integrity.”

Highlighting the significance of the visit, HFN President, Mr. Jibril Saidu Ojih, presented awards of appreciation to Mrs. Saunders and CHA Treasurer, Mr. Muhammad Shafiq, who also serves as the Secretary General of the Asian Handball Association.

Ojih described the gesture as a token of gratitude for their tireless contributions to the global development of handball.

“This is our way of saying thank you for your leadership and for the support you continue to extend to the handball community,” he said. “We look forward to more collaboration between the HFN, CHA, and our partners across the world.”

In her remarks, Mrs. Saunders, who is on a working visit to Nigeria to inspect the ongoing construction of the CHA Secretariat in Maitama, Abuja, expressed deep appreciation for the hospitality extended to her by the NOC and HFN.

“Nigeria has always played an important role in the development of handball within the Commonwealth,” she said. “I am deeply honoured by this recognition and inspired by the passion and commitment I have witnessed here.”

The event further strengthened the relationship between the Nigeria Olympic Committee, the Commonwealth Handball Association, and the Handball Federation of Nigeria, with all parties reaffirming their commitment to advancing handball development across Africa and the Commonwealth.