Sports

NSC Outlines Tinubu’s New Sports Mandate To Federation Presidents

Published

10 months ago

December 13, 2024

Joel Ajayi

National Sports Commission ,NSC, has unveiled President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s new mandate aimed at transforming Nigerian sports into a sustainable sports economy.

The detailed vision-unveiling was led by the leadership of the NSC during a strategic meeting with Presidents and Secretaries of various Sports Federations, on Tuesday, in Abuja.

The meeting marked the first official engagement between the NSC Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, and Director General, Hon. Bukola Olopade with federation leaders following institutional changes in Nigeria’s Sports sector.

Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko emphasized the shared vision between the NSC and Sports Federations, stressing the importance of partnership in driving growth and sustainability in Nigerian sports.

“We believe we are all partners with the various Sports Federations, working together for the same goal to reposition Nigerian sports”, Dikko stated.

“We came here with a clear mandate from Mr. President to get sports working again by building a sustainable sports economy. We can’t just measure our sports by participation in tournaments but by its contributions to the entire economy, and that is the new mandate and direction”, he added.

To achieve this vision, Dikko outlined a three-pillar strategy for Nigerian sports: Reset, Refocus, and Relaunch..

Director-General Hon. Bukola Olopade echoed the Chairman’s call for strategic reforms, emphasizing the NSC’s commitment to athlete development and governance restructuring.
“One thing we have also worked on is getting a consultant to come work with the Commission.

Mr Bambo Akani, Founder & CEO of Making of Champions will be our Consultant, working closely with the Commission to develop a relationship with the elite athletes across all the Sports through the Elite Development and Podium Board,” Olopade revealed.

He announced plans to establish a training fund for exceptional athletes, which will commence in February 2025. The fund will ensure athletes receive financial support for training well ahead of major competitions.

“Once we do that, we will start paying their training funds long before a major event. The days of athletes getting training grants at competition venues are gone”, Olopade stated.

He also emphasized the NSC’s efforts to improve governance within Sports Federations by introducing a corporate governance structure and appointing marketing-driven Chief Operating Officers ,COOs. He applauded the Nigeria Rugby Federation for leading this effort with the appointment of Babatunde Adeluola as its COO.

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Sports

FAME Foundation to the World: Para Athletes Need Empowerment, Not Sympathy

Published

17 mins ago

October 8, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi
The founder of FAME Foundation (Female Advocacy, Mentoring, and Empowerment), Arabinrin Aderonke Atoyebi, has called on the global community to support, not pity, para athletes.

Speaking at the recently concluded Play the Game 2025 Conference held in Tampere, Finland, Atoyebi emphasized that athletes with physical challenges require empowerment, policy support, and inclusion not sympathy.

Aderonke, a fearless journalist and lifelong advocate for women and girls in sports, has consistently championed the rights of marginalized groups through her foundation.

Known for her bold and passionate advocacy, she reiterated that para athletes deserve the same opportunities and resources as their able-bodied counterparts.

The international conference, held from October 5th to 8th, brought together journalists, policymakers, and global stakeholders to discuss pressing issues under the theme: “Breaking Barriers in Sports: Integration of Marginalized Groups and Persons with Disabilities.”

Delivering a powerful and interactive lecture, Atoyebi stated: “I want to conclude by saying that para athletes around the globe need our support, policy reviews, and implementation—not our pity. They don’t need sympathy; what they truly need is empowerment.”

Her impactful contribution at the event further amplified Africa’s voice in the global call for inclusion, equality, and policy-driven change in the world of sports.

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