The National Sports Commission (NSC) has reaffirmed its commitment to revitalising the Nigerian sports sector noting the renewed energy inspired by the leadership of its Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko, and Director General, Hon. Bukola Olopade.
In a statement by the Special Assistant on Media, office of the DG, Kola Daniel, it said the Commission has made significant strides in ensuring accountability, transparency, and world-class standards that align with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Mallam Dikko and Hon. Olopade have provided the operational acumen that has successfully turned visionary concepts into tangible achievements.
“Their podium board initiative has notably enhanced the preparation of athletes, ensuring both cost-effectiveness and timely access to training grants,” he said.
For the first time in several years, the statement said all athletes have received their training grants promptly, thereby fostering a culture of trust and engagement between the Commission and its sporting talents.
The statement announced that the bidding process for the 2028 National Sports Festival has commenced, signalling a departure from previous practices that often resulted in delays and procedural mishaps.
“This proactive approach exemplifies a new era of transparency and meritocracy, where hosting rights are secured through competitive bidding rather than arbitrary allocations,” Daniel said.
He added that the current NSC leadership has created an environment conducive to the flourishing of all sports with 44 national teams representing Nigeria in international competitions, and only two failing to achieve success.
The statement noted that a key reform comprise institutionalising the Invited Junior Athletes (IJA) initiative.
“This programme allows the top performers from recent National Youth Games to advance in representing Nigeria at major international competitions, including the Confederation of African Athletics Championships and the inaugural School Sports Games held in Algeria,” he said.
Danile stressed that this continuity has developed a structured pathway for talent acquisition, and nurtured Nigeria’s most promising young athletes.
Furthermore, he noted that the NSC has garnered support from the private sector, raising over ₦10 billion from corporate partners to bolster programmes and competitions.
This funding, he said, alleviates the financial burden on the government while providing essential resources for athletes to excel both locally and internationally.
In less than nine months, Nigeria has hosted at least five international events, including the West African Traditional Wrestling Championship in Abuja, the CAA Africa U18/U20 Athletics Championships, an international training programme for gymnastics coaches, the Africa Cadet Taekwondo and Karate Championships, and the Para Table Tennis Championship in Lagos.
He said plans were also in place to host the West Africa Para International Tournament in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
