Sports
NSC Throws its weight behind Lagos Liga’s mission to revolutionize grassroots football.”
Joel Ajayi
The National Sports Commission (NSC) has pledged full institutional support for Lagos Liga, an innovative private football league redefining grassroots and community football in Nigeria.
This commitment was made by the Director General of the NSC, Hon. Bukola Olopade, during a courtesy visit by Lagos Liga founder, Joshua J. Omojuwa, to the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.
The meeting focused on the vision and seven-point agenda of Lagos Liga, a bold initiative designed to merge sports, youth empowerment, and the creative economy into a single thriving ecosystem.
Hon. Olopade commended the Lagos Liga vision as being fully aligned with the mandate given to the Commission by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“The mandate that Mr. President gave the NSC, is to create an environment and structure that puts money into the pockets of Nigerians,” Hon. Olopade said.
“Grassroots initiatives like the Lagos Liga are at the heart of the President’s thinking when he appointed Mallam Shehu Dikko and I. You might not even realise the full meaning of what you are building yet, but I see your vision clearly. It aligns perfectly with ours, and that’s why we will throw our weight behind you. Not only are you creating decent employment for our teeming youths, you are also reimagining the future of sports as a viable business.”
Hon. Olopade assured that the NSC would work closely with Lagos Liga to deepen grassroots participation, attract commercial investment, and ensure the initiative evolves into a sustainable national model for sports innovation.
In his response, Omojuwa praised the transformative leadership of the NSC under the leadership of chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko and D.G, Hon. Bukola Olopade, noting the renewed private-sector confidence in Nigeria’s sports economy.
“The chairman and Director General, have been in office for barely a year, but we have seen their convening power at work, especially with the private sector’s renewed interest in funding and supporting sports,” Omojuwa said.
“People aren’t paying attention, but they should. The National Sports Commission, through Mallam Shehu Dikko, and Hon. Bukola Olopade , have gotten governors on board to advance the development of sports infrastructure. This is exciting for us at Lagos Liga because infrastructure is at the root of sports development.”
“This visit is an opportunity to acknowledge some of the progress we are seeing at play and to advance a partnership with the Commission. What we are building at Lagos Liga will be better served with the support of the Commission.”
Launched by Metamo Sports, Lagos Liga is one of Africa’s most ambitious private 7-a-side football projects, with a ₦100 million prize pool, entertainment-driven fan engagement, and a mission to commercialize grassroots talent.
Analysts describe the emerging partnership between Lagos Liga and the NSC as a new model for public-private synergy driving Nigeria’s sports economy under the Renewed Hope Agenda, with a focus on job creation, innovation, and youth inclusion.
Sports
PremiumTrust Bank Abuja City International Half Marathon Earns World Athletics Label
Nigeria’s foremost Sports Company, Nilayo Sports Management Limited (NSML) has announced the second edition of the PremiumTrust Bank Abuja City International Half Marathon, set to light up Nigeria’s capital city on Saturday, December 6, 2025.
With the theme “Steady Strides,” this year’s race captures the measured rhythm and determined pace that define world-class long-distance running, a reflection of the steady progress and ambitious vision shaping the marathon’s evolution into a global platinum-labelled event.
In a historic milestone for Nigerian sports, the PremiumTrust Bank Abuja City International Half Marathon has been officially awarded the prestigious World Athletics Label for its second edition, a distinction achieved in record time. This remarkable feat makes it the first marathon globally to earn the label so swiftly, underscoring both the organizational excellence of NSML and the dynamic rise of PremiumTrust Bank, currently celebrated as Nigeria’s fastest-growing commercial bank.
The 2025 edition is expected to attract elite international athletes, top local runners, and marathon enthusiasts from around the world, alongside officials from World Athletics who will oversee the competition.
Speaking on the announcement, Managing Director of Nilayo Sports Management Limited, Yetunde Olopade, expressed excitement about the unique partnership with PremiumTrust Bank.
“This second edition is fundamentally unique because it represents the first-ever true super-partnership on such a dynamic sports property in our nation and arguably, globally. PremiumTrust Bank is not just a sponsor but the sole partner anchoring the establishment, organization, and consolidation of a global marathon in Nigeria’s capital city.
” We are proud and grateful for the bank’s visionary leadership, which not only recognized the immense potential of the first edition but is now single-handedly driving the race toward international acclaim.”
Managing Director of PremiumTrust Bank, Dr. Emmanuel Efe Emefienim (CON) emphasized the shared values underpinning the partnership.
“PremiumTrust Bank is built on the philosophy of rapid, impactful, and sustainable growth, and the theme of this year’s marathon perfectly reflects our operational ethos.”
“Attaining World Athletics Label status in just the second year validates that our investment is yielding world-class outcomes. We are deeply proud to be the sole partner building this monumental legacy, reinforcing our commitment to sports development, community wellbeing, excellence, and platforms where champions are made.”
The PremiumTrust Bank Abuja City International Half Marathon 2025 promises to be a spectacular celebration of endurance, athleticism, and community spirit, further strengthening Abuja’s status on the global racing calendar.
Registration for participants is currently open as it promises to be another marathon spectacle on the 6th of December 2025.
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