Sports
NSC To Set Aside 45% Allocation For Grassroots Dev’
The mainbowl of Adokiye Amiesimaka Staduim waiting to host the Dream Team and their Congo counterparts on Sunday
The Director-General, National Sports Commission (NSC), Alhassan Yakmut has said the commission plans to set aside between 25 to 45 per cent of its annual allocation for grassroots sports development.
An NSC statement released by the commission’s Deputy Director Press, Stephen Nelson, quotes Yakmut as saying yesterday in Abuja that this was the only way to discover young talents to replace aging athletes.
It noted that Yakmut said this while addressing zonal coordinators of the commission on the need to groom young athletes, at which he lamented the deficiencies observed in the coordinators’ technical approach to discovering new talents.
It urged them to prove their mettle by organising annual competitions for young athletes to showcase their talents.
The statement said the commission would distribute its resources for sporting activities strictly on well-thought out programmes.
“The time has come, when professionalism has to be put to test and key indicators in sports measured”.
The statement quotes him as saying that the commission would meet regularly with coordinators to create awareness on the `modus operandi’ for grassroots sports development.
It stressed the need to harness talents from the grassroots, saying that not less than 60 per cent of Nigeria’s population was youths, from where talents could emerge.
The statement said that each of the zones would be required to organise championship that would assist them in discovering talents.
“With the system, the coaches should adopt should be such that will have symbiotic collaboration. To achieve this, we need to renew our work ethics and have a checklist,” he was quoted as saying.
The Bayelsa State government, yesterday, announced that the marathon will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
The inaugural race is owned by the Bayelsa State Government and will be organised by Nilayo Sports Management Limited, a sports management company.
Under the theme “The Reveal,” the race represents a bold unveiling of Bayelsa’s immense human and cultural potential to the international community, inviting the world to witness the resilience, grit, and talent rooted in the heart of the Niger Delta.
According to the organisers, the race will be flagged off at 9:30 a.m., at the Opolo Roundabout, guiding participants through a carefully designed 10-kilometre route that highlights the scenic beauty and vibrant atmosphere of Yenagoa.
The course will culminate at Peace Park Square, where athletes will cross the finish line into a grand celebration of endurance, unity, and community spirit.
To elevate the experience for runners and spectators alike, the finish venue will host a high-energy post-race concert featuring performances from top A-list artistes, blending sport and entertainment in a festival-style atmosphere.
The organisers directed all registered participants to collect their race bibs and kits at the designated Peace Park Square between March 30 and April 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.
The race, according to them, is currently on track for World Athletics accreditation, underscoring the commitment of both the Bayelsa State Government and Nilayo Sports Management Limited to delivering an event that meets the highest global standards.
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, on Friday continued the Commission’s nationwide appreciation tour with a visit to Abeokuta, where outstanding junior athlete, Majekodunmi Afusat Bisola, was presented with a cheque of N3 million.
The presentation forms part of the NSC’s initiative to recognise and reward exceptional junior athletes who distinguished themselves in 2025 and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s medal haul.
Majekodunmi delivered an impressive run of performances on the track. At the last edition of the National Sports Festival, she stormed to gold in the 400m and the 4x400m relay. She replicated the double triumph at the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Junior Championship, in Abeokuta, before emerging as one of the standout stars at the African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola.
Speaking during the presentation, Olopade explained that the Commission deemed it necessary to extend financial appreciation to grassroots athletes after elite performers had earlier received grants running into thousands of dollars.
“A few weeks ago, after paying grants to our elite athletes, we agreed tthere was a need to also appreciate these young, budding talents who made Nigeria proud last year,” he said.
He disclosed that of the 376 medals recorded by Nigerian athletes in 2025, more than 200 were won by grassroots talents, underscoring the importance of sustained investment in youth development.
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