As the 22nd National Sports Festival kicks off in Abeokuta, a bold and visionary initiative is set to redefine the future of Nigerian sports—the Invited Junior Athletes (IJA).
Introduced by the National Sports Commission (NSC), the IJA concept is not just another program—it is a historic attempt to bridge the long-broken gap between grassroots sports and elite competition.
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Speaking passionately to Sports247 in Abeokuta, the Director General of the NSC, Hon. Bukola Olopade, explained the strategic purpose behind IJA during his recent interaction with the athletes:
“We created IJA to tag grassroots to elite. This is a deliberate and structured pathway to identify, nurture, and elevate young talents to national and international standards.”
90% of the athletes representing IJA are under 17, handpicked from last year’s Youth Games in Asaba—all champions in their respective sports. These young stars now compete as the symbolic 38th state at the National Sports Festival.
“If even one of them wins a medal—just a bronze—that child immediately becomes part of the elite cadre. That’s history. That’s transformation,” Olopade added.
And it doesn’t end there. Medal-winning IJA athletes will automatically qualify for the NSC Athlete Grant, a financial and developmental support system that prepares athletes for global events like the 2028 Olympics and the Commonwealth Games.
The DG emphasized that for years, Nigeria struggled to create a working model that connects local talent to international excellence.
“We’re proud to be the ones changing that narrative. With IJA, we’re getting it right.”
As the Gateway Games unfold, the spotlight is not only on competition but on hope, structure, and a future where Nigeria’s sports glory is built from the ground up.
