The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, has expressed immense satisfaction with the rapid rehabilitation and development of sports infrastructure across Nigeria, describing the ongoing transformation as the dawn of a new era for sports in the country.
Speaking on this nationwide momentum, Hon. Olopade highlighted the collaborative efforts of the Federal Government and various state administrations to restore existing facilities and construct new ones for athletes and local communities. He specifically pointed to major strides being made in Kaduna , Bayelsa , and Delta states.
“A few days ago, I was in Kaduna, and what the Kaduna State Government is doing with the Ahmadu Bello Stadium that was concessioned to them is gobsmacking. It’s amazing,” Olopade remarked.
He also lauded the infrastructural progress in Bayelsa under Governor Douye Diri, while acknowledging Delta State’s continuous role in the country’s sports infrastructure revival.
To complement these state-level achievements, the NSC is aggressively rolling out a broad facility development program targeting national stadiums, university campuses, and grassroots neighborhood centers. In Ogun State, the Commission has already awarded a contract for a new training pitch at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Abeokuta, and full-scale rehabilitation has officially kicked off to modernize the historic Muda Lawal Stadium.
“At the National Sports Commission, we have given out contracts for facilities on campuses, in neighbourhoods, and, of course, at national stadiums. In the next few weeks, everywhere will be busy. At the Muda Lawal Stadium, they have started work… to bring it back to a 21st-century stadium,” he revealed.
Beyond merely providing competition venues, the DG emphasized that modern sports facilities are vital engines for community engagement, athlete development, and economic growth. He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his unwavering dedication to the sector, noting that federal backing has empowered the NSC to drive initiatives that create direct employment for young Nigerians
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has committed himself to sports, and he is doing an amazing job. In reality, we have used sports, from the NSC point of view, to create employment for thousands of young people.”
Hon. Olopade concluded by expressing deep optimism that these nationwide projects will dramatically elevate Nigeria’s sporting landscape. He noted that this emerging revival represents a crucial step toward repositioning sports infrastructure as a powerful catalyst for sporting excellence, youth empowerment, and enduring economic growth.
