I’m thrilled to announce my appointment as General Secretary of the Nigeria Diaspora Sports Council (NDSC), an organisation I helped establish and whose leadership I’m honored to join. This global initiative is passionately committed to discovering, nurturing, and empowering athletes of Nigerian heritage living abroad.
Nigerian sports extend far beyond the realm of football, despite its unparalleled popularity. While football reigns supreme, our vision encompasses a broader athletic landscape. Consider, for instance, the dedication of our basketball players ⛹🏾♀️, our track and field athletes 🏃🏽♀️, boxers 🥊, tennis players 🎾 , and even our hockey players 🏑—a sport whose existence in Nigeria I only very recently discovered 😅. However, the substantial financial burdens associated with many of these disciplines severely restrict their progress and international competitiveness 😢.
A global diaspora of exceptionally gifted male and female Nigerian athletes compete in these sports, many born outside the country, and remain largely undiscovered by Nigerian sports authorities until their careers are already fully developed. At this point their loyalties often lie firmly with their birth countries—a consequence of limited knowledge about Nigeria, and Nigeria’s equally limited awareness of them. This oversight represents a significant loss of opportunity for both the athletes and Nigeria. The NDSC hopes to bridge this critical gap 💪🏽.
Our aim is to cultivate a strong sense of national identity in these athletes, providing them with comprehensive exposure to Nigerian culture and fostering a deep connection to the community. This proactive approach nurtures their talent, empowers them to realise their full potential, and ultimately inspires them to proudly compete for Nigeria on the world stage 🏆.
I was recently questioned about a perceived abandonment of domestic sports development 😅. However, my dedication to grassroots sports remains unwavering. Far from seeing them as being mutually exclusive, I envision a synergistic relationship between fostering local talent and leveraging the significant resources and expertise residing within our diaspora. I believe this can only improve the national sports scene.
I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the Chairman, Tunde Adelakun for his visionary leadership on this project, and I look forward to working with our gifted leadership team.
If you would like to learn more about the NDSC and be kept updated on our progress, please follow our page —> Nigeria Diaspora Sports Council or visit our website http://www.nigeriadiasporasports.com.
If you have any questions, have any great ideas you would like to share or would like to partner with the NDSC, please reach out! The synergy and opportunities are endless.
Let’s grow together 🙌🏽😊.
TBD 💖