Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko, says Nigeria’s strategy of recruiting elite athletes from the diaspora is already yielding positive results as the country continues efforts to strengthen its national teams ahead of major international competitions.
Speaking ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Dikko expressed satisfaction with the progress recorded under the NSC’s Diaspora Talent Initiative, describing the programme as a vital complement to the country’s rich pool of home-grown athletes.
According to him, the initiative is not intended to replace local talent but to create a broader and more competitive selection process capable of producing stronger national teams.
“We are happy with the progress made so far. The diaspora talent initiative is delivering positive results and, at the same time, creating healthy competition with our home-grown athletes,” Dikko said.
Nigeria has increasingly turned to athletes based in Europe, North America and other parts of the world across several sports, including athletics, basketball and wrestling, as part of efforts to improve competitiveness at global events.
The approach has also provided more athletes of Nigerian heritage with the opportunity to represent the country on the international stage.
Dikko believes the Commonwealth Games offer the perfect platform to evaluate the effectiveness of the initiative, insisting that national team selection should always be based on merit.
“Our objective is to ensure that only the very best athletes represent Nigeria. Healthy competition raises standards, and that is what we are building,” he added.
The NSC chairman also revealed that the Commission is putting long-term structures in place to ensure the programme remains sustainable, stressing that the initiative forms part of wider reforms aimed at repositioning Nigerian sports for consistent success at continental and global competitions.
The Diaspora Talent Initiative is one of several reforms introduced by the NSC to improve Nigeria’s competitiveness across multiple sports, with the Commission seeking to establish a sustainable pathway that combines local development with the vast pool of Nigerian talent competing abroad.
As Team Nigeria begins its Commonwealth Games campaign, the Commission will be hoping the blend of home-based and diaspora athletes translates into strong performances and an improved medal haul for the country.
