Nigeria has officially secured the hosting rights for the second edition of the African School Games, tagged “Abuja 2027”.
The landmark feat was disclosed in Abuja during a formal signing ceremony between the leadership of the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA).
Speaking during the signing ceremony, the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, described the development as a landmark achievement for Nigerian sports, noting that it aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of repositioning the nation’s sports sector through grassroots development.
Dikko emphasized that robust school sports networks are vital to building a sustainable sports ecosystem, revealing that the NSC is already working hand-in-hand with the Federal Ministry of Education.
“Developing Nigerian sports from the grassroots level is one of our mandates, and at that grassroots level, the foundation should be school sports,” Dikko stated.
He highlighted the success of the Invited Junior Athletes (IJA) initiative, introduced by the Commission as the “38th state” at the National Sports Festival, describing it as a major breakthrough in grassroots talent discovery.
According to him, the Commission’s ongoing efforts to revamp sporting infrastructure nationwide also complement Nigeria’s ambition to host a memorable edition of the African School Games.
He assured ANOCA that Nigeria would deliver a world-class tournament capable of setting new standards for future editions, citing the country’s successful hosting of previous international competitions, including the COJA Games and the U-18 and U-20 CAA Athletics Championships.
The Director General of the NSC, Bukola Olopade, reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to organizing a successful championship. He stated that hosting the Games reflected the Commission’s dedication to grassroots sports development.
Olopade expressed satisfaction with the level of preparations already in place and noted that ANOCA had commended the quality of the Local Organising Committee led by Lekan Abari.
He said the confidence shown by ANOCA demonstrates Nigeria’s seriousness in ensuring the Games become a memorable event for young athletes across the continent.
Youth Development Through Sports
ANOCA President, Mustapha Berraf, praised the Nigerian Government and the leadership of the National Sports Commission for their commitment to youth development through sports.
Berraf described the agreement as a significant milestone for African sports, saying it provides hope and opportunities for children across the continent while officially confirming Abuja as the host of the 2027 Games.
“This is a great moment for sports in Africa and an even greater moment for our children,” Berraf said. “The signing of the Games Hosting Agreement further confirms that the Games will be held here in Abuja.”
As part of the ceremony, ANOCA honoured Mallam Shehu Dikko with an Honorary Award of Excellence in recognition of his leadership and contributions to sports development in Nigeria and across Africa.
The continental body also presented a Plaque of Appreciation to the NSC Director General Bukola Olopade for his administrative leadership and commitment to advancing sports development.
