Sports
House of Reps Revives Grassroots Sports with Distribution of Kits and Sportswear to All 360 Federal Constituencies
By Joel Ajayi
In a renewed effort to revive grassroots sports and promote youth engagement across Nigeria, the House of Representatives has flagged off the distribution of sporting equipment to members of its sports Committee, targeting all 360 federal constituencies.
The initiative, launched on Wednesday in Abuja, is a collaboration between the House Committee on Sports and the National Sports Commission. It aims to support talent discovery and youth participation through the provision of essential sports kits including football boots, jerseys, and training gear.
Speaking at the event, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, urged lawmakers to redirect their constituency funds towards sports development at the grassroots level, instead of projects that are often left uncompleted.
“It is unacceptable that a country of over 230 million people returns from global competitions without medals, while much smaller nations succeed,” Abbas lamented. “To reclaim our sporting greatness, we must return to grassroots and developmental sports.”
He criticized the proliferation of abandoned skill acquisition centres and called on legislators to invest instead in community-level sports infrastructure and programmes, which he described as powerful tools for youth empowerment.
Commending the House Committee on Sports for its proactive efforts, the Speaker hailed the distribution exercise as unprecedented. “This is the first time I am seeing the Sports Committee match expectations in such a short period. Their performance is commendable and should serve as a model for other committees.”
In his remarks, Chairman of the Sports Committee, Hon. Kabir Amadu (Mai Palace), reaffirmed the House’s resolve to reinvigorate grassroots sports. He noted that each federal constituency will benefit from the distribution, with members expected to take the materials back to their communities.
“This gesture goes beyond symbolism. It is a practical step toward reviving youth engagement and sporting talent across Nigeria,” Amadu said. “We can’t keep lamenting the decline of grassroots sports without taking action.”
He also revealed that the next phase of the project would focus on constructing mini-stadiums across the country to complement the kits and provide long-term infrastructure for sports development.
Sports
FCT FA Board Member Urges Grassroots Reform, Hopeful For Super Eagles World Cup Qualification
Legal Practitioner And Administrator Barr Bucknor Threatens To Petition FCT Minister Over Abandoned Stadiums
Despite Nigeria’s precarious position in the race for a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Barrister Babatunde Burknor, a board member of the FCT Football Association (FA), remains hopeful that the Super Eagles can still secure qualification.
Nigeria currently sits third in their qualification group with 11 points from 8 matches, trailing Benin Republic and South Africa, who both lead with 14 points. Yet Burknor, a seasoned football administrator and grassroots sports advocate, believes all is not lost.
In a recent interview made available to BSN Sports, Burknor said: “Nigeria’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup may appear almost impossible, but that doesn’t mean it is out of reach. The situation is tough, yes, but looking at the quality of players in our squad, I still believe we can make it.”
He added that unexpected results from other group rivals could work in Nigeria’s favour.
“Football is unpredictable. There is still a chance that South Africa, Benin Republic, or Rwanda could drop points. If we win our remaining two games, we still stand a chance. Sometimes football reflects life where the strong may fall while the seemingly weak stand tall.”
Calls for Grassroots Reform in the FCT
Beyond national team concerns, Burknor also used the opportunity to address the state of sports development in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), urging the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to take concrete action to revamp local infrastructure.
“We have deep-rooted problems when it comes to grassroots sports. The major issue is a lack of funding and commitment from those charged with driving development at that level,” he said.
Burknor lamented the disappearance of once-thriving youth competitions like the Chairman’s Cup, Principal’s Cup, and Shell Cup, stating that such events played a crucial role in identifying and nurturing young talent.
“It’s disheartening that these programs are no longer active. Development is impossible without facilities, yet we lack even basic training grounds.”
The legal luminary revealed that he personally upgraded the sports facility at a government secondary school in his area to serve as a makeshift training centre, due to the absence of a functioning local stadium.
He is currently drafting a petition to Minister Wike, over abandoned stadiums in FCT, urging a comprehensive audit of officials responsible for sports development across the six Area Councils of the FCT.
Progress in Gwagwalada Football Development
As Vice Chairman of the Gwagwalada Football Council, Burknor highlighted the success of the Gwagwalada Football League, which has become a model for other Area Councils.
“In just two years, we’ve turned the Gwagwalada Football League into a success story. Several players from the league have already secured contracts in Europe. This shows what can be achieved with vision and consistency.”
Barrister Burknor, emphasized that grassroots football holds the key to Nigeria’s long-term football success and must be taken seriously.
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