The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Honourable Bukola Olopade, has thrown full institutional support behind the newly launched Kadiri Ikhana Football Academy (KIFA), boldly declaring the initiative “our baby” and a model the Commission is ready to adopt for future football development in Nigeria.
READ ALSO: FC Bethel Sporting Keeper Uche Stephen Targets Podium Finish, Dreams of Super Eagles Call-Up
Represented by his aide, Ebidowei Ebikagboro, at the official unveiling in Auchi on Saturday, Olopade praised legendary coach Kadiri Ikhana for taking a visionary step toward youth development through football and education.
He emphasized that the NSC sees the academy as more than just a grassroots project, but a blueprint for nurturing talent the right way—combining academics with elite football training.
“The academy is our baby and we shall adopt it. We are particularly pleased that it blends education with football. We urge the students to take their academics seriously alongside their sporting ambitions
“The NSC will fully support this project,” Olopade assured.
Olopade also highlighted Ikhana’s legacy, recalling his role in Nigeria’s 1980 Africa Cup of Nations triumph and his historic achievement as the first Nigerian coach to win the CAF Champions League with Enyimba—credentials he says make the academy’s foundation even more significant.
In the same vein, the Edo State Football Association, led by chairman Fred Newton (represented at the event), pledged strong backing for the academy, describing it as a timely investment in the future of young talents across the state.
“Coach Ikhana is not just building an academy; he is shaping lives and the future of football in Edo State.
“We will support this vision and ensure it achieves lasting impact across Edo North and beyond,” the FA representative stated.
With backing from both national and state football authorities, KIFA is already being positioned as a flagship model for structured youth football development in Nigeria.
, Honourable Bukola Olopade, has thrown full institutional support behind the newly launched Kadiri Ikhana Football Academy (KIFA)){kind=link}