NBSA eyes federation status as MoniMak Championship blazes off

It was all glitz, grit, and glory as the 3rd edition of the MoniMak Global Softball Championship exploded into action Thursday at the buzzing Baseball Park in Ilorin—ushering in a new dawn for the sport in Nigeria!

But there’s more than just trophies at stake. The Nigeria Baseball and Softball Association (NBSA) is pulling out all the stops to finally get federated—and this championship could be the golden ticket!

Kwara, Bayelsa, Osun, and Ondo are in town, slugging it out for top honours in the three-day softball showdown. But in a shocking opener, hosts Kwara narrowly lost 7-8 to Ondo in a heart-stopping contest. Talk about drama from the first pitch!

Speaking to the press, National Technical Director of NBSA, Coach Jide Oloyinka Abidoye, said the tournament is part of bigger plans to gain full recognition from the sports ministry.

“We’re pushing hard to get federated. And to do that, we need more competitions like this,” said Abidoye, a pioneer in Nigerian baseball and a legend in his own right. “We’re also bringing back ex-players into the system, which is key to our growth.”

The woman powering this softball revolution? Mrs. Monisola Yemisi Makanjuola—aka MoniMak—the NBSA Vice President and tournament sponsor. She’s on a mission to revive the sport and turn schools into talent goldmines.

“This is more than a competition,” said MoniMak. “It’s about discovery, revival, and setting the stage for bigger championships—both in Kwara and across the nation.”

Organised in collaboration with the Kwara State Sports Commission, the event has already made waves. In fact, this year’s edition is being hailed as a declaration: softball is back and here to stay!

Dignitaries at the electric opening ceremony included Sports Commission boss Mallam Bola Magaji, his Secretary Haruna Tsado, as well as top coaches like Oluayo Kayode, Toba Alegbe, and Yusuf Omowumi Iyabo—the state’s leading lady in softball.

Big applause also went to Honours Intercontinental Concepts CEO, Godwin Anaekwe, who was honoured for his unflinching support of the game.

Adding academic firepower, Professor Ibrahim Adewale Afonja of Adewale Ibrahim College of Health Sciences gave kudos to MoniMak for creating a launchpad for young talent. He even runs a baseball and softball academy at his college in Buari, Irepodun LGA.

The games continue Friday, with the grand finale set for Saturday, July 19. If NBSA gets its way, softball might just steal the spotlight at the next National Sports Festival in Enugu.

Ilorin is alive with softball spirit—and the rest of Nigeria is watching!

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook