Nigeria’s Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports Development, Hon. Adeyinka Anthony Adeboye, believes a two-day summit scheduled for this month can reshape the country’s grassroots sports system and create stronger routes for young athletes.
Adeboye outlined the plans during a press briefing held yesterday at Abuja National Stadium, with sports administrators, public officials, institutional delegates and members of the media in attendance.
Building pathways for young athletes
- Adeboye said the gathering is intended to establish lasting frameworks for participation, talent identification and athlete progression.
- He noted that numerous gifted young Nigerians have not been found or developed because facilities are insufficient, opportunities are scarce and clear development systems are lacking.
- “There is a potential world champion somewhere in Nigeria waiting to be identified,” Adeboye said. “We must make sure that no child loses the chance to succeed because of their birthplace or their family’s economic position.”
- He praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his commitment to restoring Nigerian sport, while stressing that celebrating elite achievement must be accompanied by purposeful spending on young prospects in all 774 local government areas.
- The summit will assemble government bodies, sporting federations, private-sector investors, development organisations and other relevant parties to produce a practical national plan.
The Nigerian Economic Summit Group, NESG, will act as the event’s technical partner and will help guide sessions concerning policy, investment and long-term sports growth.
Guests and summit details
Those at the press conference included National Institute for Sports Director-General Comrade Philip Shaibu, Kwara United Football Club chairman Mr. Kumbi Titiloye, and NESG Head of Public Affairs and Public Policy Ms. Seun Ojo.
Members of the organising committee were also present, including Barr. Musa Ahmadu, Dr. Ademola Are, who chairs the Accommodation and Logistics Sub-Committee, and Dr. (Mrs.) Kehinde Ajayi, chairperson of the Media Sub-Committee.
- The event is set for November 18–19, 2026.
- It will take place in the Banquet Hall at the State House, Presidential Villa, Abuja.
- Its theme is “Creating a New Pathway for Sustainable Grassroots Sports Development.”
- Deliberations will centre on five areas: participation, talent development, infrastructure, the sports economy and international pathways.
Adeboye said he is committed to ensuring the summit produces concrete measures that can bring meaningful change to grassroots sports development across Nigeria.
