The Nigeria Football Referees Association (NFRA) has taken a significant step toward strengthening officiating in the country with the successful conduct of its nationwide promotional examination. A total of 1,666 candidates across Nigeria sat for the test, marking one of the largest referee development exercises in recent years.
According to the NFRA, the candidates were grouped based on their levels of progression. 482 referees sat for promotion from Grade 2 to Grade 1, while 476 wrote to move from Grade 3 to Grade 2. The largest group consisted of 758 Referees-in-Training (RIT), who took the decisive step of becoming certified referees.
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In terms of state representation, Lagos State Football Referees Council produced the highest number of candidates with 115, while Borno State had the least with just 9 candidates. This spread reflects the nationwide reach of the exercise and the growing interest among young Nigerians in pursuing careers in football officiating.
Delivering a goodwill message to the candidates, NFRA President Alhaji Sani Zubairu, posted by the Deputy Secretary General and Examination Committee Secretary Col. Nicholas Achikasim, wished all participants success and reminded them of the importance of discipline.
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“The President, NFRA, with his National Executive and the entire Exam Committee, wishes all the exam candidates success in this year’s NFRA Promotion Exams. We also pray for a hitch-free conduct of the examination across all centres nationwide and journey mercies for supervisors and invigilators. All candidates are urged to strictly adhere to the examination rules and guidelines, especially in this age of technology and social media. The Association’s name should always be protected in all we do. Good luck once again and may the Lord bless us all.”
The exercise was described as a landmark moment for Nigerian football refereeing. With the large turnout of young boys and girls across different centres, observers say this signals the arrival of a new generation of referees ready to shape the future of the beautiful game in Nigeria.
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The NFRA, through its promotional exams and training programs, continues to reinforce its mission of producing world-class referees capable of competing on both the domestic and international stage.
