By Chigozie Chukwuleta
The National Sports Commission has introduced the Invited Diaspora Athletes initiative to integrate Nigerian-born talents abroad into the national sports framework, as part of wider reforms to reposition Nigeria for global sporting excellence.
NSC Director General Bukola Olopade said the move builds on the Invited Junior Athletes programme, which in one year has produced prospects like Rosemary Nwankwo, Miracle Ezechukwu, and Jacinta Lawrence. The new initiative will give diaspora athletes a pathway to compete for places in national teams.
“What we are doing at the National Sports Commission is not accidental; it is a deliberate, well-structured pathway to sporting excellence”,
“Our goal is clear, to ensure that no talent is lost and that every athlete has a defined pathway to reach elite performance and represent Nigeria with pride on the global stage”, he said
About 200 Nigerian diaspora athletes are expected to gather in the United Kingdom in May for open trials. Outstanding participants will qualify for the newly created Nigerian Intermediate Games, another NSC project targeting athletes aged 17 to 19.
The Commission said the Intermediate Games will bridge a long-standing gap between the National Youth Games for athletes aged 10 to 16 and the National Sports Festival for elite competitors, ensuring continuity in athlete development.
The reforms are being driven under NSC Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko and DG Hon. Bukola Olopade, with a focus on long-term planning and inclusive talent identification across all sporting disciplines.
Source/NSC Media
