Sports: Tinubu, Governors To Tackle Nigeria’s Talent Development Challenges At Abuja Summit

President Bola Tinubu, state governors and key sports administrators will converge on Abuja in November as Nigeria moves to develop a sustainable framework for discovering and nurturing sporting talent at grassroots level.

The National Grassroots Sports Development Summit 2026, scheduled for November 18 and 19 at the Banquet Hall, State House, Presidential Villa, is expected to bring together government officials, sports administrators, development institutions and international partners to address longstanding challenges affecting grassroots sports.

Former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola is expected to deliver the keynote address at the opening ceremony, where Tinubu is listed as Special Guest of Honour.

Organised by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports Development, Anthony Adeboye, the summit is themed “Creating a New Pathway for Sustainable Grassroots Sports Development”.

The initiative seeks to establish a coordinated approach to talent identification, sports infrastructure, funding, coaching and athlete development, with emphasis on building a pathway from schools and communities to elite and international competition.

The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), engaged as the technical partner, is expected to support efforts to translate discussions into practical recommendations and a workable roadmap for grassroots sports development.
Its Chief Executive Officer, Dr Tayo Aduloju, is among the key participants expected at the summit.

Other prominent figures expected include National Sports Commission Chairman Shehu Dikko and Director-General Bukola Olopade, the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, the President of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) and the Head of Office and UNESCO Representative to Nigeria.

African Table Tennis Federation President Enitan Oshodi, Nigeria Olympic Committee President and Dr Musa Nakorji of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Research Department are also scheduled to participate.

Their involvement is expected to strengthen discussions on the relationship between sports, education, economic planning, local governance and private-sector investment.

Adeboye said the summit would help Nigeria move beyond isolated sporting successes towards a structured system capable of identifying and developing talent nationwide.

“The real question is not whether Nigeria has sporting talent. We know we have talent in abundance. The question is how we build a system that discovers, nurtures and supports that talent consistently, from our communities and schools to the international stage,” he said.

He stressed that the participation of state governments, local councils and sports administrators would be critical to implementing sustainable reforms.

The summit will conclude on November 19, with stakeholders expected to develop actionable recommendations for improving grassroots participation, strengthening talent development and creating more opportunities for young athletes across the country.