Nigeria’s 2028 ITTF Championship Hosting Rights Signal Growing Global Confidence in Sports Sector — Olopade
Oru Leonard
The Director-General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, has described Nigeria’s successful bid to host the 2028 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Championships as a significant milestone in the development of the country’s sports sector.
Olopade said the achievement reflects the positive impact of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda on Nigerian sports and demonstrates growing international confidence in Nigeria’s capacity to host major sporting competitions.
Nigeria secured the hosting rights after defeating Tunisia by 23 votes to 15 at the African Table Tennis Federation’s Annual General Meeting in Morocco.
In addition to the 2028 ITTF Championships, Nigeria was awarded the hosting rights for the 2027 Africa Para Table Tennis Championship. The decisions formed part of the meeting’s announcement of host countries for senior and youth competitions scheduled for 2027 and 2028.
Reacting to the development, Olopade described the double hosting opportunity as a major boost to Nigeria’s ambition of becoming a preferred destination for international sporting events.
He noted that attracting global competitions to Nigeria was among the key objectives set by President Tinubu when he appointed him and the NSC Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, to reposition the country’s sports sector.
“This was one of the clear mandates Mr President gave to Mallam Shehu Dikko and me when he appointed us to revamp the country’s sports landscape—to make Nigeria more attractive as an international sports destination,” Olopade said.
The NSC Director-General explained that the hosting rights also align with the Commission’s Renewed Hope Initiative for Nigeria’s Sports Economy (RHINSE), which prioritises sports production, including the organisation of major international competitions, rather than focusing solely on sports consumption.
According to him, Nigeria’s increasing involvement in hosting international sporting events is helping to expand the sports economy, create business opportunities and strengthen the sector’s contribution to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Olopade disclosed that the country had successfully staged several international sporting competitions and events over the past two years in Lagos, Abuja, Abeokuta and Abia State.
He said these engagements had contributed to the Commission’s efforts to position sports as a viable economic sector capable of attracting investment, stimulating tourism and creating employment opportunities.
The NSC boss assured the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and the wider African sporting community that Nigeria would deliver a world-class championship in 2028.
He added that the country was committed to organising a competition that would set a high standard for future international table tennis tournaments.
Nigeria’s emergence as host of the two championships further strengthens its growing portfolio of international sporting engagements and reinforces the Federal Government’s efforts to harness sports as a tool for national development and economic diversification.
Meanwhile, Nigeria is preparing to host the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Congress in Abuja and the CAF Awards ceremony in Lagos, further underscoring the country’s ambition to attract major continental sporting events.
The NSC said the latest hosting successes represent another step towards establishing Nigeria as a leading hub for international sports competitions.
Signed:
Kola Daniel
Special Assistant on Media
Office of the Director-General
National Sports Commission (NSC)
October 23, 2026
