BY NONYELUM JULIET
Kaduna
National Sports Commission (NSC), has reiterated its commitment to transforming Nigeria’s sports sector, with plans to professionalize key areas, enhance funding, and revamp sporting infrastructure across the country.
Senior Special Adviser to the Chairman of the NSC on Strategy, Legal, and Administration, Barrister Musa Ahmadu, made this known while assessing the ongoing National Sports Festival (NSF), Team Sports North-West Zonal Eliminations in Kaduna.
The competition features various sporting disciplines, including football, hockey, volleyball, basketball and handball.
Ahmadu, a former General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation (2007–2015), lauded the level of competition and preparation among teams, describing it as commendable.
He emphasized the NSC’s vision of creating a structured sports ecosystem that prioritizes professional standards for players, officials, and facilities.
“There’s a new dawn as far as sports development is concerned in Nigeria. We at the NSC will ensure that the sports ecosystem changes with proper funding.
“We want to see modern sporting facilities across the country, starting from primary schools, to develop young talents and restore the country’s lost glory in sports,” he stated.
Similarly, basketball administrator Skambo Morrison, called for urgent reforms in the sector, stressing the need to harness the vast talents emerging from grassroots competitions.
“It’s painful that after seeing these skills, there is often no structured plan to nurture them. At the federation level, we need to come together and do something different. For basketball in Kaduna State, I believe it’s time for a fresh start and real change,” Morrison lamented.
Meanwhile, Maikano Alhaji Adamu, Zonal Coordinator for the North-West Zone, commended the Kaduna State Government for its support in hosting the eliminations, while urging for more commitment in subsequent editions.
In a major boost to sports in the region, Kaduna State is set to host three major championship competitions this year, with sponsorship from the American Embassy, Dubai, and Nike.
These events are expected to feature international coaches and further solidify the state’s reputation as a hub for sports development.
