The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports Development, Hon. Adeyinka Anthony Adeboye, has challenged newly inaugurated sports federation boards to make grassroots talent discovery, athlete development and sustainable structures central to their leadership.
Adeboye gave the charge while attending the inauguration of four national sports federation boards by the National Sports Commission (NSC) in Abuja on Thursday.
The federations inaugurated were the Nigeria Basketball Federation, Nigeria Arm Wrestling Federation, Nigeria Padel Federation and Nigeria Fencing Federation, with their new leadership expected to strengthen administration and improve Nigeria’s competitiveness.
Speaking on the significance of the inauguration, Adeboye stressed that the success of federation boards should ultimately be measured by their impact on athletes, particularly young talents emerging from schools and communities.
“Strong federations must produce stronger grassroots, not just stronger boards. Leadership in sports is not simply about occupying positions. It is about creating opportunities, building structures and ensuring that talented young Nigerians have a clear pathway to success,” Adeboye stated.
The Presidential aide commended NSC Director-General, Hon. Bukola Olopade, for emphasising accountability, diligence and athlete-centred administration during the inauguration.
Olopade had charged the newly appointed officials to demonstrate professionalism, establish clear priorities and deliver measurable progress in their respective sports.
The Nigeria Basketball Federation will be led by Dr. Abdullahi Mustapha, with Rita Mosindi as Secretary-General, while Engr. Samuel Olatunji Jackson and Ms. Dorathy Okpo Benard will serve as President and Secretary-General of the Nigeria Arm Wrestling Federation.
Similarly, Rt. Hon. Jimi Benson and Israel Inwang were inaugurated as President and Secretary-General of the Nigeria Padel Federation, while Mr. Adeyinka Samuel and Javan Bernard will lead the Nigeria Fencing Federation in the corresponding positions.
Adeboye congratulated the officials, urging them to prioritise regular competitions, coaching development, talent identification and partnerships capable of expanding participation beyond established sporting centres.
According to him, emerging disciplines such as padel and fencing require deliberate grassroots engagement to attract young Nigerians and build competitive talent pools.
“We must take these sports to schools, communities and local government areas. There are young Nigerians who may become outstanding basketballers, fencers, arm wrestlers or padel players but have never had the opportunity to try these sports,” he said.
He added that collaboration between federations and grassroots development structures would be essential to achieving the wider objectives of sports reform under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
Adeboye urged the boards to regard their inauguration as the beginning of a responsibility to athletes rather than a celebration of appointments.
“The real achievement will come when we see more children participating, more coaches being developed, better competitions and more Nigerian athletes progressing to international excellence,” he said.
“Let the success of these boards be reflected in the opportunities they create for the next generation. That is how we build a sporting future that can endure.”
