Adeboye Unveils Grassroots Sports Development Agenda, Sets November 18–19 for National Summit

Adeboye Unveils Grassroots Sports Development Agenda, Sets November 18–19 for National Summit

By Goodness Ekpang

Abuja (Core Reporters) The Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Grassroots Sports Development, Hon. Adeyinka Anthony Adeboye, has unveiled plans for a comprehensive national framework to discover, nurture and promote sporting talents across Nigeria, ahead of the National Grassroots Sports Summit 2026.

Adeboye said the summit, scheduled for November 18 and 19, 2026, at the Banquet Hall, State House, Presidential Villa, Abuja, would provide a platform for developing sustainable solutions to the challenges confronting grassroots sports development in the country.

Speaking at a world press conference held on Thursday, November 5, at the MKO National Stadium, Abuja, Adeboye said Nigeria must move away from accidental talent discovery to a deliberate and coordinated system capable of identifying and nurturing sporting talents from the community level

He noted that thousands of potentially outstanding athletes across the country remained undiscovered due to inadequate sporting facilities, lack of professional coaching, limited opportunities and insufficient institutional support.

According to him, the country cannot continue to lose promising athletes simply because they lack access to the necessary opportunities to develop their talents.

“Talent is everywhere in Nigeria. Opportunity is not. Our responsibility is to close that gap,” he declared.

Adeboye commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his commitment to repositioning sports administration and development, particularly the recognition accorded to Nigerian athletes following the Super Falcons’ historic Women’s Africa Cup of Nations victory and the achievements of D’Tigress.

He also cited the restoration of the National Sports Commission as part of the administration’s efforts to strengthen sports governance and development.

However, he stressed that beyond celebrating established sporting heroes, Nigeria must create opportunities for young and emerging athletes across all parts of the country.

He explained that the summit, with the theme, “Creating a New Pathway for Sustainable Grassroots Sports Development,” was designed to produce practical recommendations and a roadmap that would transform grassroots sports into a sustainable national development programme.

The presidential aide said the vision was to make every local government area a potential centre of sporting excellence, with schools and communities serving as platforms for talent discovery and development.

He identified five critical pillars that would shape discussions at the summit: participation, talent development, infrastructure, sports economy and international pathways.

On participation, he said the objective was to ensure that every Nigerian child, including girls and children in underserved communities, had access to organised sporting activities.

He explained that talent development would focus on early identification of promising athletes, quality coaching and clear progression from school and community competitions to national and international sporting platforms.

On infrastructure, he emphasised the need to develop and maintain accessible sporting facilities in schools and communities, while the sports economy pillar would explore opportunities for job creation, private-sector investment and economic sustainability.

The international pathways component, he added, would focus on building partnerships that expose Nigerian athletes, coaches and sports administrators to global opportunities.

Adeboye disclosed that the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports Development was working with the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) as a technical partner to advance the objectives of the summit.

He said government institutions, sports federations, state and local governments, private-sector organisations, development partners, coaches, athletes and the media would be brought together to develop a coordinated national approach.

He emphasised that the success of grassroots sports development should not be measured solely by medals won at international competitions but also by the number of lives transformed through sports.

According to him, sports can provide young people with opportunities for education, employment, personal development, discipline and protection from negative social influences.

“At the heart of every sporting achievement is a human being. A child with a dream, a young person seeking a chance, and a family hoping for a better tomorrow,” he said.

The presidential aide also appealed to the media to give greater attention to grassroots sports, stressing that coverage should extend beyond established national teams and international sporting stars.

He urged journalists to identify emerging talents in rural communities, report neglected sporting facilities and demand accountability from relevant authorities.

He equally called on corporate organisations to invest in grassroots sports, describing such investment as a contribution to Nigeria’s future workforce, talent pool and economy.

Adeboye urged state governors and local government chairmen to prioritise sports development in their communities, while appealing to parents and teachers to encourage children to combine education with sporting activities.

He further encouraged young athletes not to abandon their dreams because of their present circumstances, assuring them that efforts were underway to create opportunities for their talents to flourish.

Reaffirming his commitment, Adeboye said sustainable grassroots sports development required collective ownership, continuity, accountability and the political will to translate discussions into concrete action.

He commended the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, and its Director-General, Hon. Bukola Olopade, for their commitment to advancing Nigerian sports

He also acknowledged the contributions of the Main Organising Committee, its sub-committees, technical partners and other stakeholders working towards the successful hosting of the summit.

Adeboye maintained that the ultimate objective was to establish sustainable systems through which young Nigerians could access scholarships, professional sporting contracts, international competitions and viable careers in the sports industry.

He called on Nigerians and relevant stakeholders to participate actively in the November 18–19 summit, expressing optimism that collective efforts would create a stronger foundation for the discovery and development of future sporting champions.