Sports
NSC Mulls Inclusion of Foreign-Based Athletes in Future Sports Festivals
Joel Ajayi
The National Sports Commission (NSC) is considering the inclusion of foreign-based Nigerian athletes in subsequent editions of the National Sports Festival (NSF), in a bid to raise the standard and showcase the country’s full athletic potential.
Chairman of the Commission, Shehu Dikko, disclosed this on Sunday in Abeokuta while addressing journalists covering the ongoing 22nd edition of the biennial sports fiesta.
According to Dikko, the primary goal of the festival goes beyond just winning medals—it is about creating a platform to discover and showcase Nigeria’s top sporting talents.
“Looking ahead, we’re considering inviting our best athletes, including those in the diaspora, for future festivals,” he said. “Ultimately, it’s not just about winning; it’s about giving our talents the platform to shine.”
He added that the commission would use data from the festival to benchmark athlete performance against continental and global standards.
“When we assess results from this festival, we’ll compare them with African and world records to help set clear benchmarks,” Dikko said. “During the University Games trials at the University of Lagos, for instance, the final report featured three columns: the winner’s result, the African record, and the world record. That gave us useful perspective.”
He stressed that the origin of athletes should not be a barrier to participation, emphasizing that talent, commitment, and performance are the most important factors.
“It doesn’t matter where an athlete is based. What matters is what they bring to the table,” he noted. “With the right training, support, and publicity, they can excel and make the nation proud.”
Dikko also highlighted the unifying power of sports, stating that it remains one of the country’s most valuable national assets.
“Sports transcends its economic value—it unites us. It doesn’t matter where you’re from; once you’re involved, you’re part of the family,” he said.
He added that some states might have more athletes but limited resources to register in all events, which in turn creates healthy competition and encourages other states to raise their game.
“That’s the beauty of the system,” he concluded
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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