Shehu Dikko, the Chairman of National Sports Commission (NSC), has declared that the Olympics-Standard National Sports Festival will serve as the true test of reforms in Nigeria’s sports sector.
The 2924 National Sports Festival is scheduled to take place in Abeokuta, Ogun State, from May 16 to 30.
Speaking at the official unveiling of the logo, mascot, and theme song for the festival, Dikko noted the need for the Gateway Games 2024 to meet Olympic standards as a benchmark for the new era in Nigerian sports.
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“Mr. President is known for taking bold decisions, and the reintroduction of the NSC is one of them,” Dikko said.
“This move has repositioned sports as a national asset, and we are now facilitating the legislation and regulations required to support its full potential.”
Dikko said the success of the upcoming Games would demonstrate the viability of the reforms.
“This is why the National Council on Sports Extraordinary Meeting is so crucial; it must align with the reform agenda,” he added.
“The Abeokuta festival must be the best, an Olympic-standard edition that sets a benchmark for future games in Nigeria.”
Dikko outlined the Renewed Hope Initiative for Nigerian Sports Economy (RHINSE) as the driving force behind the sector’s transformation, aligning with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope and Shared Prosperity Agenda.
“We’re no longer just competition-driven. We are now focusing on developing sports from the grassroots to the elite levels, anchored on the three Rs: Reset, Refocus, and Relaunch,” he explained.
According to Dikko, the new approach requires increased private sector involvement, massive investment in infrastructure renewal, and school and grassroots sports development.
