The National Volleyball Division One and Two Leagues officially began on Friday in Umuahia, Abia State, with the Ajase-Ipo Volleyball Team of Kwara State defeating Adamawa in straight sets, 25–18, 28–27, 25–15, to claim an early victory in the Division One category.

The championship, which features 34 teams from 22 states, includes both male and female categories and is sponsored by the Abia State Government. Participating teams include Abia, Sokoto, Ekiti, Katsina, Adamawa, Kwara, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Plateau, and several others. The tournament provides opportunities for promotion and relegation across divisions — with the top two Division Two teams moving up to Division One, while the bottom two in Division One will drop to Division Two. The best two Division One teams will qualify for the Nigerian Volleyball Premier League.

During the opening ceremony, Obioma George, Abia State’s Director of Sports, praised Governor Alex Otti and the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Nwaobilor Ananaba, for transforming the state into a hub for national and international sports. He highlighted that Abia has hosted over fifteen major sporting events under the current administration, and noted that the Abia female volleyball team—which had lost its dominance in previous years—is now ranked second on the national table.

George assured all participating states of a well-organized and comfortable competition, emphasizing Abia’s commitment to promoting sports and youth development. The event’s Referee Coach and 2nd Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Volleyball Referees Association, Mohammed Mohammed, also pledged fair officiating and urged players to uphold discipline throughout the tournament.

The National Volleyball League continues through the week as teams battle for promotion and the chance to advance to Nigeria’s top-flight volleyball competition.