Nigeria’s preparations to host the 2nd African School Games, Abuja 2027, have received a massive vote of confidence and a strategic pledge of financial support following a stellar presentation at the Extraordinary Session of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) General Assembly in Nagoya, Japan.
Held at the Hilton Hotel, the high-profile assembly brought together ANOCA leadership and key stakeholders across the global Olympic Movement, including representatives from the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC) and the Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC). Proceedings were officially opened by ANOCA President, H.E. Mustapha Berraf, featuring various goodwill messages and international MoU signings before focus shifted to upcoming continental spectacles.
Introduced by the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) President, Engr. Habu Gumel, the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), Mr. Lekan Abari, took center stage to provide a comprehensive operational update. He situated the project firmly within the mandate given by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to secure and flawlessly deliver the Games, while also acknowledging the vital leadership of the National Sports Commission (NSC) under Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko and Director General Hon. Bukola Olopade.
Mr. Abari’s detailed presentation covered critical milestones, including the formal hosting agreements, initial facility inspections, venue rehabilitation plans, approved sporting disciplines, funding mobilization, and overall LOC readiness. He emphasized that while significant work remains, the LOC is actively progressing on all fronts and remains unyieldingly committed to meeting every ANOCA requirement.
The briefing was exceptionally well received, drawing resounding applause from the General Assembly. During the interactive session, delegates engaged the Nigerian contingent on key logistical components, including participant safety, the functionality of the LOC Secretariat, technical manuals, and the first Chef de Mission Meeting scheduled for January 12–20, 2027. Mr. Abari confidently assured the Assembly that work is advancing smoothly and that the LOC will maintain seamless coordination with ANOCA to hit all agreed deadlines.
Following the session, several international delegates approached the Nigerian contingent to commend the quality, depth, and clarity of the presentation, noting that it showcased a profound understanding of the monumental task ahead. The Abuja 2027 briefing stood out as one of four major updates at the session, alongside presentations for Equatorial Guinea’s African Beach Games, Ethiopia’s African Youth Games, and Egypt’s African Games.
The defining outcome of the Nagoya engagement was ANOCA’s formal reaffirmation of its commitment to Abuja 2027, which included a firm pledge to release promised financial support to accelerate ongoing preparations. The LOC will now immediately engage ANOCA on the modalities for the disbursement of these funds.
Having successfully transitioned its hosting mandate from a promise to concrete proof of readiness on the global stage, the Nigerian delegation’s attention now shifts firmly back home to intensify operational delivery for a historic and highly successful African School Games.
