In a renewed push to reposition Nigeria’s sports industry for greater impact, the National Sports Commission (NSC) has charged sports officers across the country to align with the Federal Government’s transformative vision aimed at restructuring the sector for economic growth, youth empowerment, and global competitiveness.
Addressing participants at a stakeholders’ engagement session in Abuja, a senior official of the Commission emphasized that the era of business-as-usual is over, urging officers to adopt modern approaches to sports development that prioritize talent identification, infrastructure, innovation, and commercialization.
“We are ushering in a new era of sports administration, one that requires synergy, accountability, and a deep sense of responsibility from every officer,” the official stated. “This vision is rooted in President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, where sports is not just recreation but a tool for national development, job creation, and international recognition.”
The new policy direction is focused on decentralizing sports management, encouraging public-private partnerships, reviving school sports programs, and elevating Nigeria’s presence in international sporting events through structured athlete development pathways.
Officers were specifically urged to engage grassroots communities, local governments, and private investors in identifying and nurturing talents while ensuring that sports infrastructures across the states are upgraded and properly maintained.
The NSC also revealed plans to launch a nationwide audit of sports facilities and human capital resources to better understand the sector’s needs and deployment strategies.
Participants welcomed the charge, with several regional sports officers acknowledging the need to “relearn and readapt” in order to keep pace with the changing dynamics of global sports management.
With the renewed focus, the Commission believes that Nigeria’s vast sporting potential—spanning athletics, football, combat sports, and indigenous games—can be harnessed into a formidable industry that not only wins medals but creates sustainable value for the nation.
The transformation drive is already gaining momentum ahead of upcoming national and international tournaments, signaling that the NSC is serious about turning policy into performance.
