Annabelle Fasuba emerges face of NSC’s diaspora sports mission

By Amaechi Agbo

The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, has reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to supporting elite Nigerian athletes from discovery to podium success, as part of a renewed drive to restore the nation’s dominance in global sports.
Olopade made this known during a visit to the United Kingdom home of teenage sprint sensation Annabelle Fasuba, one of the brightest young athletics prospects of Nigerian descent.
The NSC boss stressed that the Commission is determined to ensure that talented Nigerian athletes both at home and in the diaspora receive the support needed to maximise their potential and deliver podium performances for the country at major international competitions.
According to him, the Commission is actively encouraging young athletes of Nigerian heritage abroad to remain connected to the nation’s sporting project and proudly represent Nigeria on the world stage.
“Nigeria wants you and will make sure we give you all the support you need to get to the very top in your career,” Olopade said during the visit.
He added that the initiative aligns with the vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu under the Renewed Hope agenda, aimed at creating opportunities for Nigerians across the globe to contribute to national development through sports.
Chairman of the NSC Diaspora Talent Committee, Tunde Adelakun, also emphasized the Commission’s holistic approach towards athlete development.
Adelakun noted that the Committee’s mission goes beyond sporting excellence, with equal focus placed on education, mentorship and long-term career development for young athletes.
“We want to make sure you excel not only in sport, but also academically, while preserving your future after sports through sound education,” he stated.
He explained that the Committee’s Diaspora Athletes Monitoring Mentoring and Support (DAMMS) initiative perfectly aligns with Annabelle’s development pathway and the future vision of Nigerian sports.
At just 14 years old, Annabelle has already emerged as the fastest girl in her age category in the United Kingdom and is widely regarded as one of the most exciting young sprint talents in athletics.
She is the daughter of former Nigerian Olympian and ex-African sprint king Olusoji Fasuba, whose achievements on the track made him one of Africa’s most celebrated sprinters.
Fasuba and his wife, also a former sprinter, expressed appreciation to the NSC delegation for recognising and supporting their daughter’s development.
During the visit, Annabelle was presented with the Podium Performance Prospect recognition award by the NSC Director General and the Chairman of the Diaspora Talent Committee.
The recognition marks the first diaspora presentation under Project P4 (Podium Performance Prospect Project), an initiative designed to identify and integrate talented Nigerian-born athletes abroad into the country’s sporting system.
Annabelle is also among the young diaspora athletes being considered for participation at the highly anticipated National Intermediate Games scheduled to hold in Lagos later this year, as the NSC continues its efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s future talent pool.