Joel Ajayi
The President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Engr. Habu Gumel, has lauded the leadership of the National Sports Commission (NSC) for its sustained investment in youth development, noting that the strategy is already delivering positive results.
Engr. Gumel made the remarks at El dorado Beach Park in Luanda, Angola, after Nigeria’s Beach Volleyball team defeated Egypt 2–0 to clinch the gold medal at the ongoing 2025 Africa Youth Games.
He described the Africa Youth Games—an initiative of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA)—as a vital grassroots development platform designed to “catch them young” and prepare athletes for future national and international assignments.
“The Youth Games are very important because they serve as a foundation for grassroots sports development. Through this programme, young talents are identified early and groomed for the national level,” Gumel said.
Expressing delight over Nigeria’s strong participation and success, the NOC President noted that the Beach Volleyball gold medal was a clear indication of the country’s growing strength in youth sports.
“We are happy that Nigeria is participating actively, and our team has just won gold in Beach Volleyball. I watched these athletes earlier at the Islamic Games in Saudi Arabia, and seeing their progress now makes us very proud,” he added.
Engr. Gumel further attributed the bright future of Nigerian sports to the effective leadership of the National Sports Commission, praising both the Chairman and the Director-General for their vision and commitment.
“The future of sports in Nigeria is very bright. This progress would not have been possible without the leadership of the National Sports Commission.
The Chairman and the Director-General are doing an excellent job, and their efforts are clearly reflected in these achievements,” he concluded.
