All is now set for the inaugural version of the Huge Sports activities Dialogue 1.0, a high-level discussion board designed to redefine Nigeria’s sports activities ecosystem and unlock its potential as a catalyst for nationwide growth.
The landmark occasion, themed “Reshaping Nigeria’s Sports activities Ecosystem,” will happen in Lagos on 24 November, bringing collectively the nation’s foremost sports activities leaders, policymakers, traders, and media professionals.
Talking at a press briefing to announce the occasion, the Chairman of the Native Organising Committee, Osaze Ebueku, stated the dialogue is greater than one other spherical of conversations—it’s a motion aimed toward aligning the sports activities sector with the nationwide financial agenda.
“We’ve had dialogues previously, however this one is completely different,” Mr Ebueku declared. “We now have folks in authority who imagine that is the suitable dialog to have. That is about making a blueprint that helps the Nationwide Sports activities Fee, the administration, and the federations. Nobody can do it alone.”
He added that the Huge Sports activities Dialogue is backed by the Nationwide Sports activities Fee (NSC) and the Renewed Hope Initiative for Nigeria’s Sports activities Financial system (RHINSE), reflecting the federal government’s rising recognition of sports activities as a viable driver of financial progress, job creation, and social cohesion.
Mr Ebueku emphasised that Nigeria’s sports activities business holds immense potential that is still largely untapped.
“Nigeria’s sports activities potential is simple. From the Tremendous Eagles’ roar to our athletes’ triumphs globally, now we have the expertise, ardour, and resilience,” he stated.
“But, our contribution to the GDP—0.33 per cent in 2021—tells a narrative of unfulfilled promise. However at this time, we break the cycle.”
4 key outcomes
He defined that the Huge Sports activities Dialogue 1.0 would deal with 4 key outcomes—coverage reform, private-sector collaboration, athlete-centred growth, and media amplification.
He stated these will drive the creation of a Nationwide Sports activities Blueprint that addresses infrastructure gaps, funding challenges, and governance inefficiencies.
Below the coverage reform agenda, contributors will draft actionable suggestions for a unified nationwide sports activities coverage that aligns with Nigeria’s financial diversification objectives.
On private-sector collaboration, the dialogue will present a platform for traders and innovators to discover sustainable funding fashions for grassroots sports activities and expertise growth.
The athlete-centred growth pillar will deal with athlete welfare, profession transitions, and making a system that values gamers past their lively years.
Within the media amplification section, journalists and broadcasters will talk about how storytelling, documentation, and digital media can drive visibility, accountability, and renewed public curiosity in Nigerian sports activities.
Stroll the discuss
Mr Ebueku, who has been working carefully with key companions and like-minded people, stated the dialogue’s mission is to “stroll the discuss” relatively than dwell on rhetoric.
“That is about strolling the discuss, serving to to ship on the President’s agenda and the NSC’s roadmap for a sports activities financial system that provides hope to younger Nigerians,” he stated.
“We’ve a youthful inhabitants with a median age of 19. If we channel that vitality by way of sports activities, the multiplier impact on the financial system might be huge.”
Among the many confirmed audio system for the dialogue are NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko, NSC Director-Normal Bukola Olopade, former NFF President Amaju Pinnick, former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, and broadcaster Rufai Oseni.
The occasion will even function sports activities directors, entrepreneurs, and company executives who share a imaginative and prescient of reworking Nigeria’s sports activities narrative.
Different organisers current on the press convention included Jerome Obuninta, who assured the buy-in of the Presidency by way of the workplace of the Senior Particular Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports activities Improvement.
Veteran sports activities journalist Sylvanus Ofekun additionally assured that officers of companies just like the Federal Inland Income Service and the Nigeria Customs Service will be a part of within the dialog
For sportscaster Aaron Akerejola, the Huge Sports activities Dialogue 1.0 will mark a defining second in Nigeria’s sports activities historical past—a chance to show conversations into concrete actions to construct a vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable sports activities financial system.
