Joel Ajayi
The National Sports Commission (NSC) has described sports as one of Nigeria’s most valuable national assets, with the potential to drive unity, development, and national pride.
Chairman of the Commission, Shehu Dikko, made this known on Sunday in Abeokuta while addressing journalists at the ongoing 22nd National Sports Festival.
According to Dikko, sports transcend economic value, serving as a unifying force that brings Nigerians together regardless of background or origin.
“Sports is beyond its economic value; it is one of our greatest national assets,” he said. “It unites us. It doesn’t matter where you’re from—once you’re involved, you’re part of the family.”
He emphasized that the state of origin of athletes is not a determining factor in the festival. Rather, the focus should be on the process, performance, and what each athlete contributes to the overall success of the event.
“What truly matters is what athletes bring to the table, not where they come from,” Dikko said.
He also noted that while some states may have a larger pool of athletes, they may lack the capacity to register participants in all sporting categories. This, he added, encourages healthy competition among states.
“This imbalance creates a challenge that motivates other states to raise their standards and expand participation,” he explained. “That’s the beauty of the system—it drives growth across the board.”
