By Joel Ajayi

The National Sports Commission (NSC) has lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what it described as unprecedented support for the sports sector, while reaffirming its commitment to grassroots sports development through the Renewed Hope Unity Cup, a nationwide football competition aimed at discovering and nurturing young talents.

Speaking at the unveiling of the official logo of the Renewed Hope Unity Cup at the VIP Lounge of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, on Wednesday, Chairman of the NSC, Mallam Shehu Dikko, represented by the Commission’s Director of Facilities, Dr Mohammed Rabiu, said grassroots football remains the bedrock of sustainable sports development in Nigeria.

According to him, football remains the country’s most popular sport and provides the best platform for identifying future stars capable of representing Nigeria on the global stage.

“Football is the most popular sport in Nigeria and developing it at the grassroots is critical to the future of our sports. Our goal is to build a solid foundation that will continue to support the growth of sports across the country,” he said.

Dr Rabiu said the Commission was proud to associate with the Renewed Hope Unity Cup initiative, describing it as a strategic platform that aligns with the NSC’s vision of building a sustainable sports development structure capable of producing world-class athletes.

He also commended President Tinubu for his unwavering commitment to the sports sector, noting that the current administration has significantly increased investment in sports infrastructure after years of neglect.

“There was a time when funding for the maintenance of sports facilities was virtually non-existent. Today, substantial resources have been provided for the rehabilitation and maintenance of our sporting facilities. This demonstrates Mr President’s commitment to the growth of sports in Nigeria,” he stated.

The NSC representative assured stakeholders that the Commission would continue to maximise the support from the Federal Government to position Nigeria as Africa’s leading sporting nation.

Earlier, National Convener of the Renewed Hope Unity Cup, Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande, described the tournament as a historic initiative that would, for the first time in Nigeria’s football history, feature teams from all 774 Local Government Areas in one unified national competition.

He explained that the championship is designed not only to discover football talents but also to promote national unity, youth empowerment, peacebuilding and community development.

“The National Renewed Hope Unity Cup is more than a football competition. It is a national movement that seeks to unite Nigerians, discover hidden talents, empower young people and strengthen grassroots football across the country,” Yahaya-Kwande said.

He disclosed that every participating local government team would receive football equipment, including jerseys, boots, footballs, training bibs and other essential kits, while players and officials would benefit from welfare packages, insurance where applicable and match allowances.

According to him, all matches will be professionally produced and streamed live on digital platforms to expose talented players to professional clubs, football academies, national team selectors and international scouts.

Yahaya-Kwande further revealed that the competition would leave a lasting legacy through a nationwide Train-the-Trainer Programme, under which selected coaches from each of the 774 local government areas will receive technical education and coaching certification from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the National Institute for Sports (NIS) and other technical partners before returning to train coaches within their respective communities.

He added that beyond football, the initiative would create employment opportunities, stimulate local economies, encourage entrepreneurship and equip young Nigerians with leadership, discipline and life skills.

The two-month tournament is scheduled to kick off on October 1, 2026, with matches taking place simultaneously across all 774 Local Government Areas. Winners will progress through state and zonal qualifiers before competing at the national finals to determine the overall champion.

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