The National Sports Commission (NSC) has commended President Bola Tinubu for approving more than N200 billion for sports facilities, describing it as unprecedented support.
NSC Chairman, Shehu Dikko, gave the commendation on Wednesday in Abuja during the unveiling of the logo for the Renewed Hope Unity Cup.
Representing NSC Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko, the Commission’s Director of Facilities, Dr. Muhammad Rabiu, said the decision to use football for the initiative was significant given the sport’s popularity and unifying influence in Nigeria.
Rabiu said the NSC was proud to be associated with the project and described the logo as more than a visual identity.
“The logo is beyond just an image; it’s a symbol. Anytime you see this, you begin to look at the faces here,” he said.
He also highlighted the Federal Government’s increased investment in sports facilities, saying the NSC now had more than ₦200 billion for facilities, compared with a period when maintenance funding had been zero for four consecutive years.
Rabiu, on behalf of Dikko, thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support for Nigerian sports, adding that the Commission wanted Nigeria to become Africa’s leading sporting nation.
Dikko said the president also fulfilled commitments made to the Super Falcons following their achievements.
“We cannot stop thanking Mr. President for his unwavering support for sports,” he said.
“We are grateful for what he has done, but we are also asking for more because we want Nigeria to become the best sporting nation in Africa.”
Speaking on the Renewed Hope Unity Cup, Dikko said the grassroots initiative aligned with the commission’s mandate of strengthening sports development.
He described football as Nigeria’s most popular sport and said grassroots initiatives would help build a sustainable future for the game.
“Our major mandate is to ensure that the foundation of sports at the grassroots becomes solid enough to support the growth of all sports,” he said.
He described the unveiled logo as a symbol of the vision and aspirations of the initiative.
Dikko said the commission was proud to be associated with the tournament.
Earlier, National Coordinator and Convener, Dr. Suleiman Yahaya Kwande, said the tournament would provide opportunities for young players, particularly those from rural and underserved communities, to attract the attention of professional clubs, academies, and international scouts.
Kwande described it as Nigeria’s largest grassroots football competition, with teams from all 774 Local Government Areas in the country to participate.
He said the tournament would promote national unity, discover football talents, empower youths, and strengthen community development through sports.
According to him, the competition will also provide coaching education, digital broadcasting of matches, and economic opportunities for host communities.
He said the initiative complements the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda by using sports as a tool for national development.
The tournament is scheduled to take place from Oct. 1 to Dec. 1, and prize money for the tournament, designed for male players aged 18 to 21, has yet to be determined.
Packaged by Lanre Olabisi
