**Says sports can drive development, create jobs, and restore national pride
By Fatima Ndagi
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Abbas Tajudeen, has announced plans to establish a National Sports Academy as part of renewed efforts to revamp Nigeria’s sports sector and reclaim the country’s lost glory on the global stage.
Tajudeen made the announcement on Wednesday during the maiden distribution of sports equipment to lawmakers for delivery to their constituencies, an initiative led by the House Committee on Sports.
Highlighting the need for grassroots development, the Speaker described school-based sports as the backbone of national talent discovery.
“During my student days and early teaching years in the 1970s, school sports competitions were routine. That’s how legends were discovered,” he recalled. “We must return to that model to revive our sporting excellence.”
Tajudeen expressed dismay over Nigeria’s recent poor showings at global events, referencing the last Olympic Games where Saint Lucia, with under 100,000 people, secured a gold medal while Nigeria returned empty-handed.
“It is unacceptable for a nation of over 200 million to record zero medals. This must change,” he declared.
According to him, the proposed National Sports Academy, already captured in the 2025 national budget, will feature modern indoor and outdoor facilities and admit talented youths scouted from grassroots competitions. The goal, he said, is to build future Olympic and international champions.
He also criticized the selection of athletes based on connections rather than merit, urging lawmakers to invest more in sports infrastructure over traditional projects like clinics and skill centres.
“Sports can productively engage our youths, generate revenue, and build stronger communities,” he said, describing sports as a tool for national development.
Tajudeen commended the House Committee on Sports for distributing equipment within six months — a feat he described as unprecedented in National Assembly history.
In his remarks, Rep. Kabiru Amadu, Chairman of the House Committee on Sports, applauded President Bola Tinubu and the legislature for raising the sports budget from ₦29 billion in 2024 to ₦113 billion in 2025 — a 288% increase.
Amadu explained that the equipment, which includes jerseys and footballs, will reach 3,260 teams nationwide, with each state receiving between 80 to 120 sets.
“These aren’t just kits — they are tools of empowerment and inclusion,” Amadu said. “By investing in grassroots sports, we are investing in young people’s dreams.”
Also speaking, Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mr. Shehu Dikko, emphasized the need to shift from competition-driven sports to development-based policies.
“Federations must focus less on chasing event funding and more on building a sustainable sports ecosystem,” Dikko said.
He revealed plans to present a comprehensive sports reform bill to the House soon. The bill seeks to restructure the sector, establish critical agencies, and introduce funding mechanisms that will make sports more attractive to investors.
“Our long-term goal is to turn sports into a job creator, foreign exchange earner, and a powerful tool for national unity,” Dikko said, urging lawmakers to support the upcoming legislation.