The National Sports Commission (NSC) has intensified its campaign to attract athletes of Nigerian descent to represent the country, declaring that the era of losing world-class talents to other nations must come to an end.
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The commitment was reaffirmed during the maiden Nigeria Diaspora Talents Development Committee (NDTDC) Multi-Sport Event held at the Hertfordshire Sports Village in the United Kingdom, where young athletes of Nigerian heritage showcased their abilities across several sporting disciplines.
Leading the charge, NSC Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko praised the athletes who have already committed their international futures to Nigeria, assuring them that the Commission is determined to provide the environment needed for them to thrive.
“I commend every one of you for choosing Nigeria. Whether you were born at home or in the diaspora, once you are Nigerian, you deserve the opportunity to represent your country. Our responsibility is to create the enabling environment for you to succeed,” Dikko said.
The NSC chairman admitted Nigeria had paid a heavy price over the years by failing to engage talented youngsters abroad early enough, pointing to Premier League stars Bukayo Saka, Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze as examples of players who might have represented the Super Eagles under a more proactive system.
“If we had started this initiative years ago, perhaps players like Bukayo Saka, Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze would be playing for Nigeria today. We cannot continue to lose talents of that calibre,” he added.
Dikko cited Morocco’s remarkable rise in world football as a blueprint Nigeria intends to emulate, noting that the North Africans have successfully integrated players developed abroad into their national teams.
According to him, Morocco’s recent successes—from youth competitions to the senior national team—demonstrate the enormous value of building strong relationships with athletes in the diaspora.
The NSC chairman explained that the diaspora programme complements the Commission’s broader grassroots development strategy, revealing plans to integrate diaspora athletes into future national competitions.
Following the introduction of the Invited Junior Athletes as the “38th state” at the National Sports Festival, Dikko disclosed that diaspora athletes are expected to feature at the forthcoming Intermediate Games and could eventually become the symbolic “39th state.”
Director-General of the NSC, Hon. Bukola Olopade, echoed the chairman’s position, revealing that attracting athletes of Nigerian heritage worldwide forms part of the Federal Government’s long-term sports development agenda.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given us the mandate to search for Nigerian talents across the world. We have seen how many players of Nigerian heritage are excelling for other countries. Enough is enough. We want our children to know that Nigeria believes in them from the beginning of their journey,” Olopade said.
He stressed that the Commission’s vision extends beyond elite competition, with plans to support athletes from grassroots development through to international representation.
Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ambassador Amin Dalhatu, also addressed the gathering, describing sports as one of the country’s strongest tools for national unity and international diplomacy.
The event concluded with Chairman of the Nigeria Diaspora Talents Development Committee, Dr. Tunde Adelakun, thanking the NSC for backing what he described as a landmark initiative designed to reconnect Nigeria with thousands of talented athletes scattered across the globe.
Several Nigerian sporting icons, including Olympic gold medallist Chioma Ajunwa, former D’Tigress captain Sarah Ogoke, table tennis legend Funke Oshonaike, and former Super Eagles stars Seyi Olofinjana and Carl Ikeme, were also in attendance, mentoring the young athletes and sharing insights from their international careers.
The event featured exhibition matches and skills sessions in football, basketball, netball, golf, taekwondo and table tennis, with Team Nigeria Diaspora recording victories in both the junior netball and basketball contests.
As competition among nations for dual-nationality athletes continues to intensify, the NSC believes its new diaspora engagement strategy could prove pivotal in ensuring that future generations of Nigerian-born and Nigerian-descended stars choose to wear the green and white instead of representing rival nations.
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