Tinubu: Nigeria’s Sports Industry Attracts ₦50bn Investment Under Dikko, Olopade

Tinubu: Nigeria’s Sports Industry Attracts ₦50bn Investment Under Dikko, Olopade

By Niyi Busari 

Nigeria’s sports sector has recorded notable progress under the leadership of the National Sports Commission (NSC), with Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko and Director General Hon. Bukola Olopade overseeing a period of reform, international success, and growing economic impact, BSN Sports Commission.ng reports.

Operating under the RHINSE Blueprint between 2024 and 2025, Team Nigeria secured a total of 373 medals at global competitions, comprising 197 gold, 119 silver, and 77 bronze medals across multi-sport events, continental championships, and international tournaments. The performances have strengthened Nigeria’s competitive profile and reinforced its ambition to emerge as Africa’s leading sports powerhouse.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu commended the achievements, noting that Nigerian athletes continued to enhance the country’s image on the global stage.

“In 2025, scores of athletes representing Nigeria made our nation proud,” the President said.

Beyond competitive success, the NSC’s reform agenda delivered measurable economic outcomes. The sports sector attracted ₦50 billion in private investment, the highest level of private-sector capital mobilised through the Sports Investment Promotion Office, and contributed 1.2 per cent to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product by the third quarter of 2025.

Major sporting events during the period also generated more than 140,000 jobs, combining both direct and indirect employment opportunities nationwide.

President Tinubu highlighted the broader significance of sports to national cohesion and development, describing it as a powerful unifying force.

“Sports is one of our strongest brands as a nation. It unifies us, breaks all our fault lines, inspires belief, and builds a sense of community that cuts across age, language, ethnicity, religion and social status,” he said.

The reform period also produced historic milestones, including Nigeria’s rise to world number one in Scrabble and the country’s first-ever participation in the Bobsleigh World Cup, signalling an expansion into non-traditional sports.

According to the NSC, a key driver of the progress was the introduction of a unified sports funding framework, approved at the presidential level, aimed at reducing bureaucratic delays and streamlining financial support across sports federations.

President Tinubu said the outcomes underscored the importance of structured investment in talent development.

“From grassroots competitions to continental and global stages, the evidence is clear that when talent is supported with structure and preparation, Nigeria delivers,” he said.

The NSC said the reforms have positioned sports as both a performance-driven and economically viable sector, with long-term benefits for athletes, institutions, and the broader Nigerian economy.