By Azuka Chiemeka.
The National Sports Commission (NSC) has announced that the official handover of the championship flag to the next host state of the National Youth Games will take place during the closing ceremony of the ongoing 9th edition in Asaba, Delta State.
This disclosure comes against the backdrop of speculations that Lagos State had already been granted hosting rights for the 2026 edition of the Games. The NSC clarified that no such decision had been made, stressing that due process will be followed in naming the next host.
Speaking with newsmen on Friday evening, the Director General of the NSC, Chief (Hon.) Bukola Olopade, also revealed that the Commission has created a new platform to ensure retired female athletes are duly recognized, with provisions now in place for them to serve as statutory members across all sports federations henceforth.
On recent media reports suggesting internal rifts and power struggles within the NSC, Chief Olopade strongly dismissed such claims as “half-truths, innuendoes, propaganda and outright falsehood” peddled by what he described as “quack and contemptible journalists.”
He condemned in unequivocal terms attempts to tarnish the image of the Commission under the leadership of its Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko.
” A whole lot of shenanigans have been going on. I have a brother and friend, an amazing man and a true leader, Mallam Shehu Dikko. There was never a time we fought over money, contracts or positions. The ridiculousness of that story is enough for SWAN to reprimand the writer. We have also reported the matter officially to the DSS under section 19 of the Cybercrime Act,” Olopade stated.
He further described his relationship with the NSC Chairman as “rock-solid and built on sincerity,” adding that their roles are clearly defined and that there has never been any quarrel or tussle for supremacy.
” I know the Chairman is the leader of the NSC, and I know I’m the Director General working under him. We have never had issues. For someone to wake up and write that there is infighting in the Commission is not only ridiculous but shameful and wicked.”
Olopade reassured that both himself and Mallam Dikko remain united in their vision of transforming the nation’s sporting landscape. According to him, their focus is on building a production-oriented system that will revolutionize sports in Nigeria.
” Shehu Dikko and I have our eyes on the board. We are innovating, we’re working hard to build a system that produces value. This is why we have even placed a bid for Nigeria to host the Commonwealth Games.”
He also stressed that the NSC views all sports federations as members of one united family, reiterating that there are no conflicts between the Commission and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
“We are a family, we are all focus-driven, and we are a team.”
He concluded by revealing that the NSC, in collaboration with the NFF, is already preparing for Nigeria’s forthcoming World Cup qualifiers, reaffirming the Commission’s commitment to strengthening the nation’s performance on the international stage.
