Key stakeholders in Nigerian sports have commended President Bola Tinubu for his hands-on approach to developing the sector, describing his leadership as a turning point for the country’s sporting fortunes, Sunday PUNCH reports.
The Nigeria Olympic Committee, National Sports Commission, Nigeria Football Federation, and boxing and sambo federations praised Tinubu’s decision to reform sports funding and ensure the timely release of resources to athletes and sporting bodies.
NOC President Habu Gumel lauded the President for recognising the socio-economic potential of sports and installing competent leadership to drive the sector forward.
“On behalf of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, I wish to express our profound gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his proactive approach to sports development. The timely release of funds has been a game-changer, enabling the leadership to achieve milestones that were previously thought impossible,” Gumel stated.
The NOC President highlighted the appointments of Shehu Dikko as Chairman and Bukola Olopade as Director-General of the National Sports Commission as masterstrokes in the administration’s quest for sporting excellence.
The NOC disclosed that Nigerian athletes won 373 medals in international competitions in 2025, with N50bn in private sector investment secured and over 140,000 jobs created.
NSC Director-General Olopade said Tinubu’s reforms had restored confidence in Nigerian sports administration.
“We have a President who understands that sports are not just about winning medals but about building an economy around them. His directive to end delayed funding has allowed us to plan properly and support our athletes adequately,” Olopade said.
NFF President Musa Gusau praised the President’s commitment to football development, noting that the Super Eagles’ bronze medal at AFCON 2025 reflected improved preparation.
“President Tinubu’s intervention came at the right time. The streamlined funding approach will eliminate the bureaucratic bottlenecks that frustrated sports for years. We can now focus on building sustainable programmes rather than chasing funds,” Gusau said.
Nigeria Boxing Federation board member Azania Omo-Agege described the President’s involvement as transformative for combat sports.
“We have seen real change in how boxing is supported. The President’s hands-on approach means our athletes will get to international competitions on time and properly prepared,” Omo-Agege stated.
Vice President of the Nigeria Sambo Federation noted that presidential attention had driven focus to funding, infrastructure, and athlete welfare.
“President Tinubu’s hands-on approach to sports is a positive and timely development for Nigeria. It sends a strong signal that sports is being recognised not just as recreation, but as a strategic tool for youth development, national unity, and economic growth,” he said.
“The real value of this approach will depend on how well it strengthens institutions. If the president’s involvement leads to clearer policies, faster decision-making, and accountability across federations, then Nigerian sports will be better positioned to compete consistently on the continental and global stage.”
Tinubu had on ordered immediate reforms to end decades of poor funding and delayed release of funds for sports, directing the Ministries of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, and the Budget Office to ensure adequate annual provisions for sports from the 2026 fiscal year.
He ordered that all appropriated funds must be released immediately once the budget is passed, declaring that Nigerian athletes deserve certainty, not excuses.