Nigeria @66: Olopade Assures Nigerians Of More Progressive Sports Development

The Director-General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, has assured Nigerians of more progressive sports development, saying the Federal Government remains committed to creating sustainable pathways for athletes to thrive under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

Olopade gave the assurance in his Independence Day message to Nigerians on Thursday, as the country marked its 66th anniversary, describing sports as a major source of national pride and a powerful vehicle for youth empowerment and national development.

He said Nigeria’s sporting achievements in recent years demonstrated the country’s resilience, unity and abundance of talent, noting that athletes had continued to raise the national flag at major international competitions.

“Today, we celebrate the resilience of our people, the strength of our unity and our belief in the promise of our great country, especially through sports,” Olopade said.

“As we raise our flag with pride, may we remain committed to building a nation where every Nigerian has the opportunity to dream, thrive and succeed.”

The NSC boss said the progress being recorded in the sports sector was aligned with President Tinubu’s vision and the Renewed Hope Initiative for Nigeria Sports Development (RHINSE), which he said was focused on establishing a stronger and more sustainable pathway for athletes.

Olopade cited Team Nigeria’s performance at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games as a recent demonstration of the country’s sporting potential.

Nigeria finished seventh overall at the Games and emerged as the highest-ranked African nation after winning 24 medals — 10 gold, seven silver and seven bronze. 

The campaign also produced several historic performances, including world records in para-sport, while Samuel Ogazi, Ezekiel Nathaniel and Chukwuebuka Enekwechi won Commonwealth gold medals in the men’s 400m, 400m hurdles and shot put respectively. 

Olopade particularly highlighted the performances of Folashade Oluwafemiayo and Goodness Nwachukwu, who both produced record-breaking displays in para-sports.

“Today, Nigeria is a global force in para-sports, and athletes such as Folashade Oluwafemiayo and Goodness Nwachukwu continue to demonstrate the extraordinary talent and determination that exist within our country,” he said.

He also pointed to the continued success of D’Tigress, who made history in 2025 by winning a fifth consecutive FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title after defeating Mali 78-64 in Abidjan. The victory extended Nigeria’s unbeaten run in the competition to 29 games. 

On athletics, Olopade noted that Tobi Amusan remained among Nigeria’s leading global performers after winning silver in the women’s 100m hurdles at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest in September, clocking 12.34 seconds. 

He said the emergence of younger athletes further demonstrated the depth of talent available to Nigeria when the right structures and opportunities were provided.

Olopade also recalled Nigeria’s rich football tradition, noting that the country remains the record holder for FIFA U-17 World Cup titles, while pointing to the growing presence of Nigerian athletes in emerging sports.

“These achievements across athletics, para-sports, basketball, football, weightlifting, flag football and other sports remind us that Nigeria possesses immense sporting talent,” he said.

The NSC director-general stressed that the responsibility of sports administrators should extend beyond celebrating athletes after they become champions, insisting that the country must develop the systems, facilities, competitions and opportunities required to produce more champions.

“Our responsibility is not only to celebrate champions after they emerge, but to build the systems, facilities, competitions and opportunities that allow more young Nigerians to become champions,” he said.

Olopade said the 66th anniversary should therefore serve as both a moment to celebrate Nigeria’s achievements and an opportunity to look towards the future.

“Our athletes have shown us what is possible when talent meets opportunity, preparation and support. The task before us is to ensure that more Nigerians have that opportunity,” he said.

He congratulated Nigerians on the Independence anniversary and expressed hope that the country would continue to advance in unity, prosperity and sporting excellence.