Tag: Bukola Olopade

The National Sports Commission (NSC) has confirmed that Nigerian athletes preparing for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, will undergo an intensive four-week residential training camp as part of efforts to ensure optimal performance at the Games.

Director General of the NSC, Hon. Bukola Olopade, disclosed that the Commission has secured a training base in Aberdeen, Scotland, a move designed to enhance coordination, reduce travel fatigue, and eliminate last-minute logistical challenges.

According to Olopade, situating the camp within the host country well ahead of the Games reflects lessons learned from previous international competitions.

 “We have deliberately positioned our preparation camp close to the competition environment to allow athletes settle early and train under similar conditions. Experience has shown us that last-minute movements across countries can be disruptive. This time, we are prioritizing stability, structure, and proper coordination,” he explained.

He added that Team Nigeria will arrive at the Aberdeen camp four weeks before the opening ceremony, allowing sufficient time for acclimatisation, technical refinement and team bonding.

Read Also: EPL: Aston Villa beat Newcastle 2-0 to keep title hopes alive

The DG noted that his visit to Scotland was part of the Commission’s broader early-stage planning, focused on securing athlete-friendly accommodation and ensuring a seamless transition into competition mode.

 “Our goal is to remove avoidable stress from the athletes and technical crew. By planning early and working within established performance frameworks, we are putting measures in place to support peak performance when it matters most,” he said.

The NSC also confirmed that preparations are being guided by Elite Podium Board recommendations, underscoring the Commission’s commitment to professionalism, evidence-based planning, and international best practices.

The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, scheduled to take place from July 23 to August 2, and will feature 10 sports.

The Toptier Sports Management has praised the Director General of the NSC, Hon. Bukola Olopade, for the administrative role he played in the company’s multi billion Naira investment in Nigeria football that is set to revolutionise the domestic Nigerian leagues.

Nigeria domestic football recently got a huge commercial rise after Toptier Sports management announced a  N40 billion.

Founder of the Toptier Sports management company, Chichi Nwoko, said the National Sports Commission, NSC, through the Director General, played a huge role in making the deal a reality.

The Director General has always been a huge driver of  the Public Private partnership, PPP, and the role he played to make this deal happen is very commendable.

Read Also: Bafana Bafana beat Angola 2-1 as Foster claims match-winning goal

She also praised the leadership of the NSC for building a sports ecosystem that is beginning to give the Private sector confidence and trust to come invest in.

She said: ” When a system has leaders who understand the commercialisation of its brands, there will surely be a strong synergy between the private and public sector.

” The Director General is one man who believes strongly in the Public Private Partnership, PPP, and his interventions and advice were very significant to this investment.

” The DG has also charged us that this should be the starting point and we are committed at Toptier Sports Management to stay in this and even expand our investment further in Nigerian sports”, she concluded.

The 40 billion Naira investment by Toptier sports management which  has been widely seen as a game changer will prioritise players welfare, Grassroots Development and the feasibility of the domestic leagues.

• By Joshua Osinowo

The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, says a landmark policy has now been approved to formally criminalise age falsification across Nigerian sports, marking one of the strongest government interventions yet in the long standing problem.

Olopade confirmed that the NSC concluded its final sessions on the policy framework last week at the annual National Council on Sports in Calabar, with key stakeholders unanimously endorsing tougher punitive measures for offenders. He stressed that the era of manipulating ages to gain competitive advantage is nearing its end.

Speaking on the new directive, Olopade said any athlete, official or stakeholder found guilty of altering or fabricating age records “will be in serious trouble.”

Read Also: Rejuvenated Lookman  scores again  for  Atalanta

According to him, the Commission’s recent policy review signalled a turning point.

 “The last session agreed that we have a scourge that has brought shame to our sports,” he said. “And when the debate started, everybody agreed that there must be a draconian approach in the punishment for those stakeholders who encourage their own to lie about their age or to fabricate birth certificates.”

Olopade explained that the policy is designed not only to sanction individual offenders, but also to hold accountable those who aid or abet age fraud in any form.

 “We cannot continue to allow this culture of dishonesty,” he said. “If you falsify your age and you are caught, or you are found out, you will face the full weight of the law. This is the only way to restore credibility, especially in youth competitions.”

He added that the NSC will work closely with relevant agencies, including law enforcement and civil registration authorities, to ensure strict implementation.

Olopade emphasised that the Commission is committed to building a transparent and merit-based sports system:

“Nigerian sports must move forward. And to move forward, we must clean up the system. Anyone who manipulates records will answer for it.”

The new policy is expected to be gazetted in the coming weeks, setting the stage for full enforcement across all federations and competitions.

The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC) Hon Bukola Olopade, has congratulated the  country’s Scrabble’s Junior Team following their heroics at the Pan Africa Youth Scrabble Championship in Nairobi, Kenya.

Nigeria won the U19 and U15 individual and team crowns with Sophia Ekeruche winning the U15 while Prestige Archibong dominated the U19 category.

Olopade  said it was  another testament to Nigeria’s increasing dominance in sports on the continent.

Read Also: NFF lauds  Adeniyi on election as Chairperson of WCO

He said: ” We are very excited to see that the objective of our Renewed Hope initiative for Sports Development is already yielding dividends across the various sports. This is another massive achievement for our grassroots sports development drive and our intentional approach towards every sports”.

” Scrabble is a sport that we have always had a good impact at international competitions and the performance in Kenya only shows that the Nigeria Scrabble Federation is on the right path in sustaining Nigeria’s dominance”.

The DG maintained that the NSC is focused on giving every sport its desired attention to excel both with their domestic programmes and at the international stage.

” The recent impressive showing of the different sports at international competitions – football, weightlifting, basketball,  badminton, Para sports and now  Scrabble, just to mention but a few, is as a result of the new approach of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu towards sports development, where equal  attention is giving to every sports to succeed,” he concluded.

The Director General of the National Sports commission (NSC) Hon Bukola Olopade said  youths in Ogun state will eternally be grateful to Governor Dapo Abiodun  for reviving sports in the state, adding Abeokuta  has now become an international sports hub.

Olopade  stated as much on Day one of the CAA African U28/U2O Athletics championship holding i at the sparkling newly refurbished MKO Sports Arena.

” Look at how Governor Dapo Abiodun has turned around the landscape of Sports development in Ogun state by investing in sports infrastructure across board and today Ogun state is comfortably hosting the entire Africa in an international event,” Olopade, a former Ogun State Sports’  Commissioner, said.” Ogun state is now a sporting hub not only of a national level but international standard, capable of attracting the very best of international stars.

” This is what President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was talking about when he gave us the mandate at the  National Sports Commission not to focus only on sports consumption which is attending competitions outside the country but also on Sports production which is hosting more international competitions here in Nigeria that will benefit our young athletes”.

Read Also: Transfers: Ighalo wants Osimhen to cash-in on Saudi financial windfall

” This Championship is coming barely two months after Ogun state hosted unarguably one of the best ever organised National Sports Festival, tagged Gateway games 2024 and the Governor is even determined to do more to leave an unmatched sporting legacy for the youth of the state. Myself and the Chairman of the Sports commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko cannot thank the Governor enough.”

Meanwhile After a few months of preparation and planning, action finally began at the joint CAA U-18 & U-20 Championships  on Wednesday inside the main bowl of the stadium as the opening day witnessed exciting actions and fireworks from some of Africa’s future stars.

Host Nigeria and defending champions South Africa stole the show on the opening day with some eye catching performances especially in the men and women 100m heat and triple jump final.

Nigeria’s Praise Ikweki won bronze medal in High Jump event being the first medal for the country at the  Championships.

Ikwesi, who paired with Melvin Ododo, started from 1.80m, achieving a perfect record until a near missed at 2.03m before he won his third attempt to scale to the next round.

He missed his three attempts at 2.06m after hitting the pole, paving the way for South Africa’s Mateo Le Roux, who won the gold.

In the U-18 Heat One 100m event race, South Africa’s Mukona Manavhela finished in a time of 11.38 while Nigeria’s Igbigbidje James Clifford  also qualified to the semi-final in a time of 11.44.

In the female category, Nigeria’s Mariam Jegede won the first heat of the U18 Girls 100m clocking a time of 12.13s while Congo’s Boukama Gladys finished second in 12.47s and Ghana’s Darkoah Kwateng ran 12.64s to settle for third.

The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, has described Nigeria’s hosting of the third  Confederation of African Athletics U18/U20 Championships as a ‘win-win’ for the nation’s sporting development and economy.

Speaking at a world press conference in Abuja, Olopade—who also chairs the Local Organizing Committee—highlighted the significance of Nigeria stepping in to host the championship after Algeria withdrew.

The event is scheduled to hold in Abeokuta, Ogun State, from July 16 to 20, 2025.

According to him, the Federal Government’s decision aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda to transform Nigeria into a hub for international sports events.

 “We’re shifting from just sending athletes abroad to hosting major competitions here at home. This helps in building local capacity, creating opportunities for small businesses, and improving sports infrastructure across the country,” Olopade said.

He credited NSC Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko for securing hosting rights during a visit to Algeria, where the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) sought a new host.

Olopade assured that preparations are in full swing, covering accommodation, transportation, feeding, technical support, and media logistics.

Read Also: Remo Stars unveil winners of jersey design challenge

 “We are on course to deliver a world-class event that reinforces Nigeria’s reputation as Africa’s sports powerhouse,” he added.

 He also expressed hope that the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) will use the event to unearth fresh talent ahead of major competitions like the Islamic Games, Commonwealth Games, and the Los Angeles Olympics.

So far, 583 athletes from 30 countries have confirmed participation, with the number expected to rise to 900 as more entries come in.

Meanwhile, South Africa is among 33 countries that have confirmed their participation in the CAA African U18/U20 championships do far.

Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC)  Hon Bukola Olopade has revealed that highly-rated  swimming sensation AbdulJabar Adama has been enlisted into the Commission’s Elite Program, under the Elite Athletes and Podium board.

The Nigeria Aquatic Federation received the cheering news when the board presented the contingent that represented Nigeria at the 16^th  Africa Junior swimming Championships in Egypt to the Director General in Abeokuta on Tuesday, at the National Sports Festival.

Nigeria had a successful campaign in Egypt securing three gold medals and a bronze, all courtesy of  17 year old Abduljabal Adama.

Abduljabal broke the championship record in the 50m butterfly and the African record in the 50m freestyle. He also won the 100m freestyle.

Nigeria later finished third overall behind South Africa and Egypt.

The DG said swimming is becoming a very top Sports where Nigeria can boast of medals at major international events, with the qualities that abound with the current set of young athletes.

“I sleep better now knowing the quality we have in swimming .I see light at the end of the tunnel for swimming. Swimming has never been categorised as an Olympic sports that Nigeria can stand tall of winning medals from, but   that is now changing”.

” With the crop of swimmers we have now and the intentionality of the Aquatic Federation, coupled with the kind of parents we have and the coaching crew, I am confident that in 2028 we will be at the podium in the Olympics”.

Read Also London Unity Cup: Chelle, Addo  talk tough ahead of West African showdown

” My confidence is not just enough and this is why on behalf of the Chairman of the Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, I want to assure the Aquatic Federation that we are going to put more funding and support for swimming”.

” We are going to intentionally support not just the current pool of swimmers that went to Egypt but all the underage competitions both home and abroad”, he said.

The DG also commended the President of the Nigeria Aquatics Federation, Chinonye Aliyu, and praised the parents of the young swimmers as National heroes.

” I want to thank the President of the Aquatics Federation of Nigeria and the secretary and more especially the parents of our young athletes and their sacrifices to get these guys doing what they do. The parents of our invited young athletes I believe are our National heroes”.

The DG also announced financial incentives for all the athletes that represented Nigeria in Egypt and the coaching crew. The DG announced 5 million naira for Abduljabar Adama while the remaining contingents get 2 million naira each.

The Director General of the National Sports Commission, NSC, Hon Bukola Olopade, has challenged the   novel Invited Junior Athletes ( IJA) contingent  to see the forthcoming 22nd National Sports Festival in Ogun State as a bold step towards their sporting greatness.

Olopade  said as much when he visited the athletes at their Abuja training camp in Abuja during an exciting interactive discussion aimed  at boosting  their morale ahead of the games.

Nigeria Sports is currently receiving a breath of fresh air with the IJA concept where the very best of the country’s young athletes across multiple Sports. have been carefully  selected as the 38^th  State  to  the  forthcoming National Sports Festival.

He stressed  that the youngsters are the future of the country’s Sports hence President Bola Ahmed Tinubu backed the Commission’s in  creating  the  exclusive  IJA contingent for  the Sports festival, starting with the Gateway Games.

” This is the first time Nigeria is having this sort of arrangement. That means for those of you who finally makes it to Abeokuta, your names would have been written in the history book forever. So work very hard to qualify to go to Abeokuta, ” Olopade  said.

He continued: ” We created the Invited Junior Athletes concept because we believe in the talents of young people that are bound in this country. If you have gone to the Youth Games and you are champion, let us then see how you grow into the elite cadre. And the only way you can grow into that cadre is by competing and beating of  the elite athletes

Read Also: New marine policy to unlock Nigeria’s blue wealth, says Oyetola

“I want to assure you all that if you win 10 Gold medals at the Festival in Ogun State, you have a big gift from the chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko.”

” Once again, I have come to say thank you for your service to the nation, thank you for loving what you know how to do best and above all , to charge you that this thing that you have started, May God lead and guide you all to greater heights.”

The IJA will compete in about nine Sports at the Gateway Games including athletics, badminton, football, para athletics, swimming, table tennis, tennis, wrestling and weightlifting.