In a bid to deepen youth engagement and expand the frontiers of grassroots sports, the National Youth Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Dayo Israel, on Friday hosted Jide Olusola (Jide-Ojo), CEO of 247SportsNetwork Limited (Sports247.ng), at the APC Youth Leader’s office, Nest Resource Centre, Abuja.
The courtesy visit sparked what both sides described as a “fruitful and forward-looking dialogue” centered on collaboration between the APC Progressive Youth Unit and Nigeria’s growing grassroots sports media.
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Israel, in his remarks, reaffirmed his belief that sports remain a powerful tool to combat crime, unemployment, and restiveness among Nigerian youth.
“Sports and youth development go hand in hand. When we channel the energy of our young people into productive, competitive, and rewarding ventures like sports, we are not just raising champions—we are curbing crime, building discipline, and securing the future of our nation,” he declared.
The APC Youth Leader emphasized that his office is committed to supporting initiatives that give Nigerian youth a platform to showcase their talents, noting that such efforts align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Mr President has demonstrated commitment to youth and sports development. Our task is to build on that vision—bringing more young Nigerians into sports as a vocation and as a unifying force for peace and prosperity,” he added.
Israel also commended Sports247.ng for its role in spotlighting grassroots sports stories, praising Jide Olusola’s leadership in amplifying local talents often overlooked by mainstream coverage.
“Sports247 is doing an incredible job telling the stories that matter at the grassroots. We are here to support and collaborate. Together, we can ensure no talent goes unnoticed and no youth is left behind,” Israel said.
In his response, Jide Olusola welcomed the prospect of deeper collaboration with the APC Youth Leader’s office, stressing that media and policy partnerships were crucial to sustaining Nigeria’s sports ecosystem.
The meeting concluded with both parties agreeing to explore structured collaborations that will bridge grassroots sports coverage, youth mobilization, and national policy support—turning sports into a transformative force for Nigerian youth
