Sports
Fresh Dawn for Nigerian Sports as NSC Swears In Federation Boards, Urges Focus on DeveCommission
Joel Ajayi
It was a new dawn for Nigerian sports on Saturday in Abuja as the National Sports Commission (NSC) inaugurated newly elected boards of various sports federations, marking a fresh chapter in the nation’s sports administration.
The inauguration followed what many described as a free, fair, and transparent election process across the different federations.
Speaking during the event, the Director General of the NSC, Chief Bukola Olopade, charged the new presidents and board members to formulate their individual constitutions within six months to ensure effective governance and sustainable sports development.
Among the federations inaugurated were Wrestling, Cricket, Hockey, Tennis, Shooting, Squash, Swimming, Traditional Sports, and Handball, among others.
Chief Olopade expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the elections, commending stakeholders for their maturity and cooperation. He noted that credible, competent, and visionary individuals have emerged to lead the new boards, which he described as a major boost for the sports sector.
He cited the election of notable figures such as the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, as President of the Wrestling Federation; the Minister of Finance, Adebayo Olawale, as President of the Boxing Federation; and former Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Victor Ochei, as President of the Tennis Federation, as clear indications of the government’s renewed commitment to professionalism and accountability in sports administration.
“We are pleased with the quality of leadership that has emerged from these elections. These are individuals with proven track records who can drive reform, attract private investment, and deliver results,” Olopade said.
He added that the Commission is adopting a new model of sports governance built on corporate principles, performance-based management, and strong private sector involvement.
According to him, the NSC will hold all federations accountable for their promises and ensure they mobilize private funding to complement government efforts.
Olopade also highlighted examples of federations already benefiting from private sector partnerships, such as the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation, which recently secured a ₦500 million sponsorship deal from a betting company.
“Our goal is to make sports in Nigeria self-sustaining through strong partnerships and responsible leadership,” he emphasized.
He assured stakeholders that the Commission remains committed to transparency, fairness, and due process in addressing any electoral disputes or unresolved issues.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the 2025 Sports Federations Electoral Committee, Dr. Simon Ebohjaye, described the elections as smooth, credible, and well-organized, noting that only the Kickboxing Federation’s election was postponed for a later date due to minor issues.
“We’ve had national and zonal elections for our sports federations, and the process has been very orderly. This exercise will usher in credible leadership that will strengthen our national federations and advance sports development across the country,” Ebohjaye said.
With the inauguration of the new boards, stakeholders and sports enthusiasts alike are optimistic that this marks the beginning of a new era of growth, professionalism, and innovation for Nigerian sports.
Sports
Nigeria Volleyball Reporters Congratulates Oguntimehin On Election As Fct Swan Chairman
The Nigeria Volleyball Reporters Association (NVRA) has congratulated Tolu Oguntimehin on his election as Chairman of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chapter.
NVRA described his emergence as an opportunity to strengthen sports journalism and advance the welfare of members.
Oguntimehin emerged victorious at the FCT SWAN elective congress held on Thursday, November 12, 2026, at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, defeating his challenger, Raphael Ekpang, by 88 votes to four.
In a congratulatory message, the Chairman of Nigeria Volleyball Reporters, Alhaji Ganiyu Oloyede described the election outcome as a testament to the confidence reposed in Oguntimehin by members of the association.
Oloyede expressed optimism that the new chairman would bring purposeful leadership, inclusiveness and renewed commitment to the development of sports journalism in the FCT.
He stressed that the responsibility of leading the association goes beyond occupying an office.
Oloyede noted that the new administration must prioritise members’ welfare, professional development, unity and the protection of their collective interests.
The NVR chairman also challenged the incoming leadership to create an enabling environment where sports journalists can thrive professionally, gain greater access to sporting events and contribute meaningfully to the growth of Nigerian sports.
He particularly welcomed Oguntimehin’s commitment to establishing a ₦200 million financial base for the association, describing the proposed initiative as an ambitious step towards building a financially stronger and more sustainable SWAN FCT.
Oloyede further emphasised the importance of collaboration among sports journalists, sports federations, government institutions and other stakeholders, maintaining that stronger partnerships would create more opportunities for members and improve the quality of sports reporting.
He urged the new executive to embrace transparency, accountability and open communication while ensuring that every member feels represented in the administration.
The Nigeria Volleyball Reporters reaffirmed its readiness to work with the new SWAN FCT leadership in promoting sports journalism, strengthening professional relationships and projecting Nigerian sports positively.
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