FG to Upgrade University Sports Facilities as NSC Revives School Sports
Oru Leonard
The Federal Government has unveiled plans to upgrade sports facilities in selected universities across Nigeria as part of a renewed drive to revive school sports and strengthen grassroots talent development.
Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko, disclosed the initiative during a meeting with a delegation from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), led by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adamu Ahmed.
Dikko said the programme is in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval for the large-scale upgrade of sports infrastructure nationwide, with schools positioned at the centre of the country’s sports development strategy.
According to him, the NSC, in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Education, has selected one tertiary institution in each of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones to serve as a Centre of Excellence for sports development. The institutions will receive upgraded facilities and technical support to nurture elite athletes while ensuring they excel academically.
“The future is in the schools,” Dikko said, recalling that many of Nigeria’s legendary athletes emerged through school competitions such as the Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA) Games.
To further strengthen school sports, he disclosed that the Commission has made budgetary provisions to support the NUGA Games and other tertiary sports competitions. He also revealed plans to establish a Tertiary Institutions Sports Federation to coordinate major competitions, including NUGA, NACEGA and NIPOGA.
With Ahmadu Bello University set to host the 2028 NUGA Games, Dikko urged the institution to begin preparations immediately by mobilising private sector support. He proposed the establishment of a joint planning committee between the NSC and the university to ensure a successful tournament.
The NSC Chairman also highlighted increasing private sector confidence in Nigerian sports, revealing that more than ₦50 billion has been attracted into the sector from private investors since 2025.
He further encouraged universities to introduce more specialised academic programmes in sports administration, governance, facility management, sports medicine, analytics and entrepreneurship to build the skilled workforce required for a modern sports industry.
Dikko commended Professor Ahmed, a former professional basketball player and ex-board member of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, for leveraging his sporting background to advance sports development at ABU.
In his remarks, Professor Ahmed praised the NSC Chairman for spearheading what he described as a comprehensive transformation of Nigeria’s sports sector, particularly the shift towards building a sustainable sports economy.
The Vice-Chancellor reaffirmed ABU’s commitment to hosting a successful 2028 NUGA Games and disclosed that the university is developing micro-credential certification programmes in sports management through partnerships with the UNESCO International Centre for Higher Education Innovation, the ABU Business School and the institution’s Distance Learning Centre.
According to him, the programmes are designed to produce highly skilled sports professionals capable of supporting the growth of Nigeria’s evolving sports industry.
The planned facility upgrades are expected to strengthen grassroots sports development, revive competitive school sports and create a sustainable pipeline of athletes and sports professionals for the nation’s future.
