Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, has charged Nigerian taekwondo athletes to target podium success at the forthcoming African Taekwondo Championships in Bamako, Mali.
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Olopade gave the charge during a working visit to the national trials of the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation currently taking place in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The visit forms part of the NSC’s inclusivity policy aimed at ensuring every sport receives adequate support, motivation, and visibility under the Federal Government’s sports development agenda.
Speaking during the visit, the NSC boss emphasized that every sport matters in the ongoing transformation of Nigerian sports under the Renewed Hope Initiative for Nigerian Sports Economy (RHINSE) reforms.
“I am happy to be here to witness these important trials which underscore the importance the Commission places on the sport of taekwondo,” Olopade stated.
He assured the athletes that their sacrifices and efforts to represent Nigeria at international competitions are appreciated by the Federal Government.
“All your efforts to represent the country and win medals for Nigeria are not taken for granted by the Federal Government,” he added.
Olopade also pointed to recent successes recorded by Nigerian athletes in sports such as cycling, athletics, para sports, and weightlifting as evidence of the renewed seriousness being given to sports development in the country.
According to him, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has demonstrated unprecedented commitment toward sports growth and athlete support.
“There is a shift in the level of seriousness President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is giving to sports that has not been witnessed in Nigeria for a long time,” he said while urging athletes to remain disciplined, patriotic, and focused.
The Director General also praised the leadership of Nigeria Taekwondo Federation President Tayo Popoola for what he described as the steady growth and stability of the sport over the past year.
Reacting to the visit, Popoola expressed appreciation to the NSC leadership, stating that the presence of the Director General would serve as a major psychological boost for the athletes ahead of the championships in Mali.
“What the DG has done today cannot be quantified. These are some of the missing pieces in sports administration in Nigeria over the years,” Popoola said.
The national trials in Abeokuta have attracted athletes from across the country competing for spots on Team Nigeria ahead of the African Championships scheduled to take place in Bamako from May 28 to June 2, 2026.
With motivation levels high and preparations intensifying, Nigerian taekwondo athletes will now be aiming to fly the nation’s flag proudly and compete strongly for medals on the continental stage.
