The National Youth Leader of the All-Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Dayo Israel, has affirmed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on the sports economy is not just rhetoric but a genuine and practical pathway to national success.
Dr. Israel made this known while hosting the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, at an event tagged “An Evening with Dikko” held at the Nest Resource Centre in Abuja.
The interactive session was aimed at engaging Nigerian youths under the Renewed Hope Agenda and encouraging them to see sports as a viable and rewarding career path.
According to Dr. Israel, sports remain a powerful unifying tool and a critical driver of youth engagement:
“Nothing unites people as much as sports do, and nothing excites young people more. That is why, here at the Nest Resource Centre, we have deliberately built a sports-friendly environment. From basketball, tennis, and table tennis facilities to digital and physical gaming spaces, we are ensuring that young people have access to avenues that inspire and engage them positively.”
He further explained that the platform created with Mallam Dikko was an opportunity for young Nigerians to better understand government policies and initiatives in grassroots and school sports development, scholarship opportunities, and broader interventions under the Renewed Hope for Sports Programme.
Dr. Israel added that the government’s vision is to integrate sports with education and development while laying the foundation for Nigeria to host major global sporting events before the end of President Tinubu’s administration in 2031.
“Tonight, we have been able to clearly understand their vision and the actions being taken today to achieve that vision. It is now our responsibility to share this information with our young people across our platforms so they can see that the Renewed Hope Agenda in sports is not a mirage – it is real, practical, and achievable,” he concluded.