Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman, National Sports Commission (NSC) has reaffirmed the federal government’s resolve to harness grassroots talent through the forthcoming National Youth Sports Festival, describing it as a vital platform for discovering and nurturing the next generation of Nigerian athletes.
Dikko made this known on Tuesday during an interactive session hosted by the Office of the National Youth Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), themed “An Evening with Shehu Dikko.”
The event, held at The Nest Resource Centre, Wuse II, Abuja, was anchored by Dr. Dayo Israel and attended by youth leaders, sports enthusiasts, and stakeholders.
Speaking on the importance of the festival, the NSC Chairman noted that the initiative would serve as an “incubation ground” for emerging athletes, building on the achievements of the National Sports Festival. He recalled the introduction of the Invited Junior Athletes (IJA) category dubbed the “38th state” which allowed young competitors to test themselves against elite athletes, a move he said had accelerated the rise of several promising stars.
The National Youth Sports Festival, scheduled for August 26 to September 6, 2025, in Asaba, Delta State, will focus more on talent discovery than medal counts. Dikko urged participating states to field athletes across as many disciplines as possible, emphasizing that the primary objective was to give opportunities rather than chase podium finishes.
Highlighting recent strides in youth sports, Dikko praised Nigeria’s outstanding performance at the inaugural African Schools Sports Games held in Algeria in July, which played a key role in securing the hosting rights for the second edition in two years. He revealed that Nigeria has also won the bid to host the next African Schools Games and has formally applied to stage larger events, including the All Africa Games and the Commonwealth Games, targeted around 2030–2031.
“These steps are part of a broader vision to professionalize Nigeria’s sports industry, enhance infrastructure, and firmly establish the nation as a credible host of top-tier global competitions,” he said.
The session, which featured robust engagement with the youth, also explored broader themes of talent development, youth empowerment, and the future of Nigeria’s sporting landscape.
With the Asaba festival just days away, Shehu Dikko reaffirmed that the National Youth Sports Festival would not only produce future champions but also lay the foundation for Nigeria’s ambition to become a continental and global sports powerhouse in the coming decade.
