NSC Backs Taiwo Awoniyi’s Grassroots Football Project

Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko, has pledged the Commission’s support for Super Eagles striker Taiwo Awoniyi’s grassroots football development initiative, the Kwara Kiddies League.

Dikko made the commitment when he received the Nottingham Forest forward on a courtesy visit to the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

Awoniyi was accompanied by former Super Eagles striker and ex-Bundesliga star Anthony Ujah during the visit, where discussions centred on youth development, talent identification and the future of Nigerian football.

As part of the engagement, the Nottingham Forest striker presented Dikko with an official club jersey and outlined his vision of expanding opportunities for young footballers through the Kwara Kiddies League and other youth-focused sporting projects.

The NSC Chairman commended Awoniyi for investing in grassroots sports development and nurturing the next generation of Nigerian athletes.

Dikko assured the forward of the Commission’s readiness to provide the necessary support and create an enabling environment to ensure the success and sustainability of the initiative.

He stressed that partnerships between accomplished athletes and sports administrators are vital for discovering and developing future champions, particularly at the grassroots level where talent identification begins.

The meeting also explored broader issues related to athlete development, football growth, and the creation of sustainable pathways for young talent to thrive in sport.

Awoniyi reiterated his commitment to giving back to society through sport, noting that providing opportunities for young people to develop their abilities remains a key personal objective.

The visit forms part of the National Sports Commission’s continued engagement with Nigerian athletes competing at the highest level globally, as it seeks to strengthen partnerships that will drive sports development across the country.