Nigeria Leads African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 2, Meeting

Nigeria has once again taken a leading role on the African continental stage as it participates in the African Union 5th Specialized Technical Committee Meeting on Youth, Culture and Sports (STC-YCS), holding from December 8 —13 in Bujumbura, Burundi.

A statement signed by Dr. Kehinde Ajayi, Director, Press National Sports Commission (NSC), said the country’s delegation is led by the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko, who is representing Nigeria at the Ministerial Session of the high-level gathering.

The Ministerial Meeting, themed “Reclaiming Dignity and Advancing Reparatory Justice Through Youth, Culture and Sport,” brings together African ministers, policymakers, and regional bodies to deliberate on the strategic role of youth development, cultural identity, and sports as tools for empowerment, nation-building, and social transformation across the continent.

Nigeria’s participation reflects its commitment to shaping continental policy and strengthening Africa’s collective approach to youth engagement and sports development.

The meeting offers an opportunity for African countries to align on frameworks that will guide investment in youth, anti-doping, sports trafficking, expand access to sporting infrastructure, enhance cultural preservation, and promote socio-economic development through sports diplomacy.

It also serves as a platform for strengthening collaboration across the continent as Africa positions itself globally in sports and cultural innovation.

On the sidelines of this event, Nigeria is also playing a central leadership role in the African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 2 Conference of Ministers, which is taking place on December 12.

The meeting will be chaired by Mallam Shehu Dikko, who serves as the Chairperson of AUSC Region 2. AUSC Region 2 consists of the 15 ECOWAS member states, although four countries remain under sanctions due to political instability.

The Region 2 Conference of Ministers is of critical importance as it provides a platform for coordinating regional sports development, harmonizing policies, and evaluating progress made in implementing continental and regional sports agendas.

Discussions are expected to touch on governance, funding models, talent development pathways, and continental participation frameworks.

Both meetings are pivotal for setting long-term priorities for Africa’s youth and sports ecosystem.

Nigeria’s delegation from the NSC include Shagaya Abdulmumeen, Commission’s Statistician, Kola Daniel, Special Assistant, Media to the DG, Lanre Ogunjobi, Special Assistant, Strategy, to the chairman, and Barr. Uche Egbe, Legal and Compliance aide to the Chairman.