The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has announced plans to establish a National Sports Academy aimed at promoting sustainable sports development within the country.
Abbas made this announcement in Abuja yester
day during the inaugural distribution of sports equipment to Principal Officers and members of the House Committee on Sports for their various constituents.
He emphasised the need to return to grassroots sports development as a strategic move to restore Nigeria’s lost glory in international sporting events.
The Speaker recalled that, during his time as a student and teacher in the 1970s, regular inter-primary and secondary school sports competitions were held.
He noted that many prominent figures in Nigeria’s sporting landscape emerged from participation in school sports competitions.
“The time has come, especially given the declining fortunes of Nigeria in the sports sector, particularly following our recent appearances at the Olympics where we returned without a medal,” he stated.
“It is unacceptable for a country of over 200 million people to compete and come back empty-handed.
“At the last Olympics, Saint Lucia, with a population of less than 100,000, won a gold medal, yet Nigeria, with its vast population, returned with nothing.
This is simply unacceptable.
“I have allocated funds in the budget to establish a National Sports Academy, featuring facilities for both outdoor and indoor games. Children of secondary school age identified through grassroots competitions will be welcomed to continue their sporting development.
“I believe that in time, this initiative will cultivate numerous international stars that Nigeria will be proud of,” he said.
Abbas argued that one effective way to reclaim Nigeria’s sporting prestige is to move away from the current practice where athletes are selected based on connections, and instead focus on grassroots competitions.
He urged members of the House to prioritise sports within their constituency development projects.
Rather than concentrating on skill acquisition centres or clinics that may struggle to achieve long-term goals due to funding issues, he encouraged the construction of sports centres and the organisation of competitions, stating that these initiatives are certain to succeed.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the House Committee on Sports, Hon. Kabiru Amadu, praised President Bola Tinubu and the leadership of the National Assembly for a remarkable 288 per cent increase in the sports sector budget, from ₦29 billion in 2024 to ₦113 billion in 2025.
He explained that the aim of distributing the equipment is to empower communities with the necessary tools to nurture talent, foster discipline, and strengthen social ties through sports.
Amadu noted that this initiative will benefit 3,260 teams nationwide, with each state receiving between 80 and 120 sets of footballs and jerseys, distributed through committee members and House leadership.
“Our goal is to build a sustainable sports ecosystem starting from the grassroots, where champions are discovered, talents nurtured, and character built.
“Investing in grassroots sports means investing in the aspirations of our young people. Sports have the potential to transform lives, and for far too long, the focus has been on elite athletes; today, we begin to shift that narrative.
“These items are not merely equipment; they are symbols of opportunity, empowerment, and national progress,” he remarked.
Additionally, the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mr Shehu Dikko, stressed the need to shift Nigeria’s sports focus from being competition-driven to being development-driven.
He asserted that the era in which sports federations sought funding solely to participate in competitions must end in favour of a focus on sport development.
Dikko stated that the objective is to make sports cleaner, more profitable, and attractive to the private sector, complementing government efforts.
“The ultimate outcome we seek is to make sports a driver of the economy, creating two to three million jobs annually and generating foreign exchange. We aspire to make sports an international asset that unites social life and instils pride in the country,” he concluded.
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