By Amaechi Agbo
The National Sports Commission has taken its school sports revival a notch higher with planned upgrades of sporting facilities in some selected institutions serving as centers of excellence for sports development.
This was revealed by NSC Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko while hosting a delegation of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) led by its vice-chancellor Prof. Adamu Ahmed.
The NSC in conjunction with the Ministry of Education has identified revival of school sports as pivotal to its grassroots sports development and have held strategic meetings to this effect. They are now backing words with action by ensuring that the sports facilities in the institutions are up to the standard that can produce podium performers and world class athletes without compromising their education.
His words, “As you are aware the President has approved massive upscaling of sporting facilities in the country. But in the same vein, we are trying to create the necessary foundation for the future of sports in this country. The future is in the schools. In the past, many notable podium performers had been produced in the schools through competitions like NUGA.
“By all means we must revive our school sports. This has led us to map out some institutions, one in each geopolitical zone, as centres of excellence for sports. For these centres to function effectively, there must be quality facilities and technical competencies within the institutions. This is why we have awarded projects to support Ahmadu Bello University to upscale its sporting facilities along other tertiary institutions across the six zones of the country.”
Mallam Dikko listed some other measures aimed at boosting school sports.
“We have noted the importance of competitions like NUGA in our sporting development, so we have a standard budget provision to support NUGA Games and other school sports activities. The President is fully in support of this. The importance he attaches to grassroots development of sports is highlighted by the fact that he has appointed an SSA on Grassroots Sports. Furthermore, we want to, in the future, create the Tertiary Institutions Sports Federation to directly address the issue and coordination of the institutions games like NUGA, NACEGA and NIPOGA”, he said.
Mallam Dikko tasked ABU on making the next NUGA Games a memorable one.
He continued, “It is good that you have been selected to host the next NUGA Games in 2028. You have to start preparing now. You have to get the private sector involved early enough because they are the major drivers of these initiatives. We are merely here to provide the enablers. In fact, since 2025 we have brought in over N50b from the private sector in investments and support to the sector.
“We are available to support you and I will suggest that we set up a joint team of your institution and some of our technical people at the Commission to start planning for the NUGA Games right away so as to ensure the delivery of a brilliant games.”
While pointing out the benefits of having the National Sports Commission in the place of Sports Ministry as the fact that professionals now run the sector, Mallam Dikko opined that the institutions will play a key role in producing the professionals that will help actualize the President’s mandate.
“The universities should help us create some professional sports courses that will arm us with the requisite competencies. It’s a huge opportunity that universities can tap into to provide the necessary supply of professional competencies needed within the sports ecosystem”, he added.
He commended Prof. Ahmed, who is a former professional basketball player, for bringing his sporting background and expertise to bear in the institution.
“Sports must be run by professionals. I was impressed with the way many people clamoured for you to get involved in NBBF because of your background in basketball both as a former player and former board member of NBBF. This is how we have reset sports. We are putting round pegs in round holes. Whoever knows your background will not be surprised over the strides being recorded by ABU in sports”, he concluded.
Earlier in his opening remarks, Prof. Adamu had hailed Mallam Dikko, who is a proud alumnus of the University at both graduate and post graduate levels, for spearheading a total recalibration of the sporting sector.
“We commend the remarkable leadership you have brought to the ongoing transformation of the Nigeria’s sports sector..Your vision of repositioning sports from being seen largely as recreation and competition to becoming a vibrant and sustainable sports economy is one that we strongly identify with. We are encouraged by the progress already being made and wish to acknowledge your courage and unwavering commitment to this national assignment”, he said.
While listing Mallam Dikko as one of ABU’s success stories, Prof. Adamu reeled out the institution’s immense contributions to the nation’s sporting advancement.
“Your success is part of a much larger story.. For over sixty years, ABU has remained one of Nigeria’s foremost contributors to sports development. Beyond producing outstanding athletes, the university has consistently produced leaders who have shaped the administration of sports in our country. We are equally proud that ABU has produced internationally respected sports personalities like Masai Ujiri and Ejike Ugboaja”, he added..
While promising to host a worthwhile NUGA 2028, Prof. Adamu further espoused the university’s disposition towards ensuring that the sector has the personnel with the appropriate professional competencies and qualifications.
“Beyond competitions, we are investing in human capital for the sports industry. The institution is currently developing a suite of micro credential certification programmes in sports management and related fields through a collaboration between the ABU Business School, the UNESCO-ICHEI Institute of Online Education and the ABU Distance Learning Centre. These programmes are designed to equip administrators, coaches, entrepreneurs and other professionals with contemporary skills required for today’s rapidly evolving sports ecosystem.
“We firmly believe that the future of Nigerian sports will depend not only in producing champions on the field of play, but also on producing world-class professionals in sports administration, governance, business, technology, medicine, analytics, facility management and entrepreneurship. We therefore assure you that in ABU, you have a willing and dependable partner”, he enthused.
