The National Youth Leader of the All-Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Dayo Israel, has asserted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda regarding the sports economy is not mere rhetoric but a tangible and practical avenue towards national success.
Dr. Israel made this statement while hosting the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, at an event titled “An Evening with Dikko,” held at the Nest Resource Centre in Abuja.
The interactive session aimed to engage Nigerian youths under the Renewed Hope Agenda and encourage them to view sports as a viable and rewarding career path. According to Dr. Israel, sports serve as a powerful unifying tool and a critical driver of youth engagement: “Nothing unites people as much as sports do, and nothing excites young people more. That is why, here at the Nest Resource Centre, we have intentionally created a sports-friendly environment. From basketball, tennis, and table tennis facilities to digital and physical gaming spaces, we are ensuring that young people have access to avenues that inspire and engage them positively.”
He further explained that the platform established with Mallam Dikko provides young Nigerians an opportunity to better understand government policies and initiatives in grassroots and school sports development, scholarship opportunities, and broader interventions under the Renewed Hope for Sports Programme.
Dr. Israel added that the government’s vision is to integrate sports with education and development while laying the groundwork for Nigeria to host major global sporting events before the end of President Tinubu’s administration in 2031. “This evening, we have gained a clearer understanding of their vision and the actions being taken today to achieve that vision. It is now our responsibility to share this information with young people across our platforms so they can see that the Renewed Hope Agenda in sports is not a mirage – it is real, practical, and achievable,” he conclude.
