The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, has reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to restoring Nigeria’s lost glory in global sports.
Speaking during the ongoing 2025 National Sports Festival (NSF), tagged ‘Gateway Games 2024’ in Abeokuta, Hon. Olopade, who also serves as the Chairman of the Main Organising Committee of the NSF, emphasised that the NSC, under the leadership of Mallam Shehu Dikko, is focused on revitalising the nation’s sports sector through strategic initiatives.
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According to him, Nigeria is rich in sporting talent but continues to suffer from a deficit in infrastructure.
He praised Governor Dapo Abiodun for providing world-class facilities for the Games, noting that the infrastructure would not only benefit Ogun State but also serve as a catalyst for national sports development.
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Hon. Olopade stated that the NSC is committed to organising competitions that go beyond talent discovery, aiming instead to provide athletes with consistent platforms to develop and compete internationally.
He highlighted the introduction of the Invited Junior Athletes category as one of the NSC’s innovative initiatives to groom young talents for future international competitions. He also revealed that other development programs are in the pipeline to ensure continuous competition and exposure for Nigerian athletes.
The NSC Director General called on the private sector to partner with the commission in advancing the country’s sports agenda. He emphasised the unique value of sports as a powerful marketing tool capable of projecting brands to a global audience without massive expenditures.
