In a country where football is practically a second religion and neighbourhood fields double as talent factories, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has thrown a spotlight on what many believe should have happened years ago—building a National Sports Academy to groom Nigeria’s future champions.
Yes, you read that right. Nigeria is finally planning to get serious about discovering, nurturing, and celebrating young sporting talent—not just by chance, but through a structured, national system.
At an event in Abuja on Wednesday, where sports equipment was distributed to lawmakers for their constituencies, Abbas said what many Nigerians have long whispered at beer parlours and football viewing centres: “It is unacceptable for a country of over 200 million people to attend the Olympics and return empty-handed.”
And who can argue with that? The last time Nigeria made any serious international sporting impact feels like forever. At the Tokyo Olympics, it was more tears than medals. Saint Lucia—with less than 100,000 people—grabbed a gold, while Nigeria returned home with more excuses than accolades. As one frustrated fan tweeted during that period: “Even my street team can do better!”
But all that might change soon.
The Big Idea: A National Sports Academy
According to Abbas, the Academy will cater to children of secondary school age who show promise in different sports through grassroots competitions. These youngsters will be given proper training—indoor and outdoor—and a solid academic foundation. In short, not just sporty but smart too.
“I believe that at the end of the day, this initiative will bring a lot of international stars that Nigeria will be proud of,” Abbas said, oozing optimism.
The Academy isn’t just a passion project; it’s already in the budget. If implemented, it would mark a significant departure from the current system where connections often matter more than competence.
“No more ‘man-know-man’ selection. We’re going back to the grassroots,” Abbas declared, possibly echoing the thoughts of thousands of sidelined talents from local communities.
Money Talks—and Now Sports Can Too
Backing the Speaker’s vision, Hon. Kabiru Amadu, Chairman of the House Committee on Sports, revealed something that made many ears perk up: a 288 per cent budget increase for the sports sector. That’s a jump from ₦29 billion in 2024 to ₦113 billion in 2025.
“This is not just about kicking balls or running laps,” he said. “We’re building a sustainable sports ecosystem—one that starts in the grassroots and ends on global podiums.”
He added that sports is more than competition; it’s a tool for character building, empowerment, and national development. According to him, every ball, bat, or track shoe handed out isn’t just equipment—it’s an opportunity.
Turning Sports into a National Asset
Mr Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the National Sports Commission, took it a notch higher. His dream? To turn Nigeria’s sports sector into an economic powerhouse that can create 2 to 3 million jobs annually, boost foreign exchange, and even unify the country socially.
He also revealed that a bill is heading to the House of Representatives to restructure the entire sports system in Nigeria. If passed, it would lay the groundwork for new agencies and funding mechanisms to ensure sports thrive beyond just football.
“Let’s stop thinking only about medals. Let’s develop the system. If we do that, the medals will come,” Dikko said.
Nigerians React: “About Time!”
From Twitter to street corners, the announcement sparked cautious excitement. “We’ve heard these kinds of big grammar before,” one Lagos barber said while juggling clippers and a conversation. “But if they actually build this Academy, ah, Nigeria go shine again, I swear!”
A young sprinter from Kaduna put it more simply: “We just need someone to believe in us. Give us chance, and we’ll shock the world.”
There’s still a lot to do. The proposed Academy isn’t up and running yet. The legislation hasn’t passed. But this could be the dawn of something new—where young Nigerians don’t have to wait for a miracle or a foreign scout to find them. Instead, Nigeria finds and grows its own stars, right from school playgrounds to Olympic stadiums.
As one elder in a community sports club in Osun joked: “If they had this thing in our time, by now I’d be doing adverts for energy drinks!”
So, will the talk translate into action? Time will tell. But one thing’s certain—if Nigeria wants her glory days back in sports, she may have just taken the first proper step in the right direction.
Tags: #NigeriaSports #GrassrootsDevelopment #NationalSportsAcademy #TajudeenAbbas #OlympicHope #HouseOfReps #NigerianYouth #TalentToTheWorld
