*Takes Place 18-19 Nov, 2026
*No Reason To Fail, says Comrade Shaibu
By Tony Ezimakor, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has endorsed the convening of a national grassroots sports summit for Abuja as the administration moves to boost talent discovery, youth development and enhanced podium performance in both continental and global sports competitions.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sports Development, Adeyinka Anthony Adegboye, made the disclosure at a press conference on Thursday, noting that the country’s return to sustained performance requires a comprehensive national strategy to discover, nurture and support sporting talents across Nigeria.
The presidential aide observed that Nigeria is losing sporting talents due in part to inconsistencies in planning, inadequate grassroots sports structure and general lack of opportunities for the youth.
These bottlenecks, he said, that the summit would attempt to address and provide a clear roadmap for harnessing of the nation’s abundant sporting talents.
Adegboye rued a situation where many potential world champions roam and waste away in the streets without access to sports facilities, coaching nor any form of support, stressing that the country must urgently address the situation.
“How many future world champions are walking barefoot on the streets of Nigeria today, not because they lack talent, but because nobody has given them an opportunity? How many young girls who could become the next Asisat Oshoala are sitting in classrooms without access to a football pitch?” Adegboye asked.
While commending President Tinubu for recognising the importance of sports development, particularly restoration of the National Sports Commission and the recognition given to the D’Tigress, the Super Falcons following their historic Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, Adegboye stressed that Nigerian athletes deserve more than celebrations after winning medals, adding that young talents in every part of the country must also be given opportunities to harness their God -given talents.
According to him, the summit is slated for 18-19 November at the Banquet Hall of the presidential villa, State House, Abuja, with the theme: ‘Creating a New Pathway for Sustainable Grassroots Sports Development’.
He explained that the summit was designed to establish a coordinated national framework that would make talent discovery deliberate rather than accidental, while creating opportunities for children and young athletes across the country’s 774 local government areas.
Notable global agencies and individuals, including UNESCO and NESG, have already signed up to the summit. NESG will serve as a technical partner for the initiative.
“The success of grassroots sports development must not be measured only by the number of medals Nigeria wins. We must also measure it by the number of lives we transform. At the heart of every sporting achievement is a child with a dream, a young person seeking an opportunity and a family hoping for a better tomorrow,” he said.
Also speaking, Director General of National Institute of Sports, Comrade Philip Shaibu said President Tinubu has demonstrated an uncommon political will by giving the kind of leg room and support to all drivers of the administration’s sports policy, insisting they have no reason to fail Nigerians.
“Those of us appointed by serve in the sports sector have no reason to fail. The President has demonstrated sincere commitment to improve the sports sector and use it as driver for youth empowerment and development. We should be held accountable for what we can achieve. In the same way, appointees in the sports sector in states and LGAs should also be made to give accounts of their stewardship, ” he said.
