Olopade: “Our Goal Is to Make Every State a Sports Hub”
For years, Akwa Ibom has set the pace in Nigeria’s sporting landscape home to iconic matches, global-standard facilities, and a reputation that earned it the title of Nigeria’s sports capital.
But now, the tide is shifting, and Ogun State is quickly catching up.
Hosting the Super Falcons, Flying Eagles, National Sports Festival, and now the African Athletics Championship in Abeokuta, Ogun has firmly planted itself on the map.
According to the Director General of the National Sports Commission, Hon. Bukola Olopade, this is just the beginning of a wider, nationwide vision.
Speaking at the sidelines of the CAA in Abeokuta, Olopade shared a passionate blueprint: “Every state in Nigeria must become a hub for sports.”
With three decades of experience in the field, Olopade believes in the power of sports to change lives. “When you build the right structures in every state, young people stay engaged, communities become more peaceful, and economic opportunities follow,” he said.
He singled out Akwa Ibom, Delta, and Ogun as role models for others to follow, while tipping Enugu State as the next breakout star. “Enugu is positioning itself to host the National Sports Festival a smart move that could energise its economy and create jobs across the board,” he noted.
Olopade stressed the need to broaden the horizon beyond football and basketball. “Kano has a strong sporting culture, but we want to see sports like volleyball, cricket, badminton, and rugby thrive as well. It’s time we started seeing sports as a vehicle for national development.”
With momentum gathering from state to state, Nigeria may just be on the verge of a sporting renaissance — one where every corner of the country plays, hosts, and wins.
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