Sports

FG Inaugurates Ten Year Football Development Masterplan

Published

5 years ago

November 11, 2021

Joel Ajayi

Federal government on Thursday inaugurated 16-man Committee to develop the football strategy that will enhance government roles at all levels – Federal, State, Local as well as the private sector in partners and social enterprise sector in the development of the game.

The Committee will also put an end in the inconsistent, irregular football calendar; lack of professionalism in Nigeria club administration, fall out
of the lack of enforcement of licensing and financial controls; and the inability to produce and sustain a conducive environment for private investors and funders.

While inaugurating the committee on Thursday in Abuja Minister of Youth and sports charged the committee to work hard to change thew fortune of Nigerian football.

According to him, it is important that the committee began the ten-year work plan now. “If anything needs to be done at any time for the sake of our football, it is this Football Ten Year Development Masterplan.

“Therefore, this committee must, among others, develop the strategies that will address these areas: The roles of Government at all levels – Federal, State, Local as well as the private sector, development partners and
social enterprise sector in the development of the game.

“The Football Pyramid and operational framework that will define the roles of educational institutions, football
academies, clubs, leagues and national competitions in the development of the game and the projected financial
requirements and targeted expenditure plans covering the different levels of the Football Pyramid.

“The commercialization of football in line with global standards to include revenue generation for both the
professional and non-professional game; incorporating.”

In his acceptance speace the chairman of the committee Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima assured Nigerian that the committee will leave no stone unturned to ensure it put in place best master plan for Nigerian football.

Other member of committee include; Mr. Yemi Idowu – Vice chairman, Mr. Emmanuel Babayaro – Member, Mr. Sunday Oliseh – Member, Chief Segun Odegbami – Member,
Mr. Ikeddy Isiguzo – Member, Alhaja Ayo Omidiran – Member, Mr. Augustine Ojiabor – Member, Mr. Tobechukwu Okigbo – Member, Mr. Ade Ojeikere – Member,
Alhaji Mohammed Sanusi – Member,
Ogbuefi Tony Nnachetta – Member, Alhaji Muhammad Daha Umar Faruk – Member, Mr. John Opubor – Member, Dr. Bode Durotoye Secretary, Mr. Musa Amadu – Assistant Secretary.

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Sports

Tinubu, Fashola, Governors, UNESCO, Sports Leaders to Headline National Grassroots Sports Summit

Published

4 hours ago

October 29, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The stage is being set for a landmark gathering at the Presidential Villa as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, and leading figures from government, sports administration and international development feature in the proposed opening-day programme of the National Grassroots Sports Development Summit 2026.

In a statement signed by Thursday by the Chairperson Media Sub-com National Grassroot Sports Summit Dr. (Mrs.) Kehinde Ajayi stated that, the two-day Summit, scheduled for November 18–19, 2026, at the Banquet Hall, State House, Presidential Villa, Abuja, is being organized by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports Development, Hon. Adeyinka Anthony Adeboye.

With the theme “Creating a New Pathway for Sustainable Grassroots Sports Development,” the gathering seeks to produce practical solutions to Nigeria’s longstanding challenges in talent discovery, infrastructure, funding, coaching and athlete development.

The opening day, Wednesday, November 18, promises high-level engagement, with President Tinubu listed as Special Guest of Honour, while Fashola is scheduled to deliver a keynote address.

Also featuring in the Day One programme is Dr. Tayo Aduloju, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), whose organization has been engaged as technical partner to help translate discussions into a workable development roadmap.

Other personalities and institutions on the opening-day lineup include the Chairman and Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko and Hon. 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.

Also listed are Barrister Enitan Oshodi, President of the African Table Tennis Federation; the President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee; and Dr. Musa Nakorji of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Research Department.

The involvement of these personalities reflects the Summit’s emphasis on connecting sports development with economic planning, education, grassroots governance, international cooperation and private-sector investment.

Adeboye described the gathering as an opportunity to move Nigerian sports beyond isolated achievements towards a coordinated national development system.

“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, development institutions and sports administrators would be critical to producing lasting outcomes.

The Summit will continue on Thursday, November 19, with further stakeholder engagements aimed at developing actionable recommendations for sustainable grassroots sports development with preparations intensifying, organizers are confident that the gathering will provide a defining platform for strengthening the foundation of Nigerian sports and expanding opportunities for young people nationwide.

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