The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports Development, Hon. Adeyinka Anthony Adeboye, has described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s endorsement of the forthcoming National Grassroots Sports Development Summit 2026 as a strong demonstration of his administration’s commitment to repositioning Nigerian sports from the grassroots.
Adeboye said the decision to host a two-day national conversation on sports development at the Banquet Hall, State House, Presidential Villa, Abuja, underscores the importance the President attaches to building sustainable structures capable of transforming Nigeria’s sporting future.
The Summit, scheduled for November 18 and 19, 2026, is being organised by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports Development under the theme, “Creating a New Pathway for Sustainable Grassroots Sports Development.”
Speaking on preparations for the event, Adeboye said bringing stakeholders together at the nation’s seat of power for two days of discussions on grassroots sports sends a powerful message about the administration’s determination to address longstanding challenges confronting the sector.
“For two days, the Presidential Villa will become a centre for serious conversations about the future of Nigerian sports. This is not an ordinary development. It shows that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not joking with sports and understands that meaningful reform must begin from the foundation,” Adeboye stated.
He explained that the Summit is designed to identify structural weaknesses affecting grassroots sports, examine practical solutions and develop a coordinated roadmap for sustainable talent discovery and development across Nigeria.
According to the Presidential aide, the gathering will attract participants from within and outside the country, including sports administrators, government representatives, federations, coaches, former athletes, corporate organisations, development partners and other stakeholders.
“We want to bring the people who understand the challenges and those who have the capacity to provide solutions under one roof. Our objective is not simply to discuss the problems but to produce a practical roadmap that can change the direction of grassroots sports development in Nigeria,” he said.
Adeboye also disclosed that the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) has been engaged as a technical partner for the Summit, describing its involvement as an important step towards ensuring that discussions are structured around evidence, practical recommendations and measurable outcomes.
He noted that the programme would examine critical issues, including sports infrastructure, school sports, funding, coaching development, private-sector investment, talent identification and sustainable progression pathways for young athletes.
The SSA stressed that Nigeria’s sporting future depends on building a system that consistently discovers and nurtures talents rather than relying on occasional individual breakthroughs.
“Nigeria has the talent. What we need is the structure. We must move from discovering champions by chance to producing them through a deliberate and sustainable development system,” Adeboye added.
He called on sports stakeholders, corporate organisations and development partners to support the Summit and contribute meaningfully to its objectives.
“November 18 and 19 must become a defining moment for grassroots sports development in Nigeria. We want a Summit whose impact will be felt long after the discussions have ended,” he concluded.
