Director General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade, has revealed that the commission has introduced a new initiative aimed at rewarding young athletes who have won medals for the country while also encouraging emerging talents within Nigeria’s grassroots sports system.
Olopade made the disclosure during visits to schools where several young athletes were recognised for their achievements in age-grade competitions.
According to him, the initiative is part of the commission’s broader strategy to identify and nurture talented athletes from an early stage.
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“We want to recognise young talents early and encourage them to keep working hard,” Olopade said.
He explained that rewarding young athletes not only motivates them to improve but also inspires other students to take sports seriously.
“When young athletes see their peers being rewarded, it inspires others within the talent pool,” he added.
Olopade noted that the programme is also designed to promote integrity in youth sports while ensuring that talented athletes receive the support needed to develop their careers.
“This initiative is about encouraging integrity in age-grade sports and changing the narrative around youth development,” he explained.
The National Sports Commission has increasingly focused on grassroots development as a key pillar for the long-term growth of sports in Nigeria.
According to Olopade, early identification of talented athletes will help the country build stronger national teams in the future.
“If we nurture talents properly from a young age, Nigeria will continue to produce world-class athletes,” he stated.
He also emphasised that sports development must begin in schools and communities where most young athletes first discover their abilities.
“Schools remain one of the most important platforms for discovering the next generation of champions,” he said.
Olopade concluded by assuring that the commission will continue to expand programmes that support young athletes across the country.
“We are committed to building a system that allows young talents to grow and represent Nigeria with pride,” he added.
