By Aderonke Ojo
The Federal Government, through the National Sports Commission (NSC), on Wednesday signed the Games Hosting Agreement with the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) for the 2027 African School Games.
The signing ceremony, held in Abuja, officially confirmed Nigeria as host of the second edition of the continental event, tagged “Abuja 2027.”
Chairman of the NSC, Shehu Dikko, described the hosting rights as a major milestone for Nigeria and said the Games aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s vision of repositioning the country’s sports sector through grassroots development.
He assured ANOCA that Nigeria would stage a world-class competition capable of setting a benchmark for future editions.
“Developing Nigerian sports from the grassroots is one of our key mandates, and the foundation of grassroots sports is school sports. That is why we are collaborating closely with the Federal Ministry of Education.
“To demonstrate our commitment to grassroots sports, the Director-General and I introduced the Invited Junior Athletes initiative at the National Sports Festival as the 38th state, and the programme has been a huge success.
“We also have a mandate to revitalise sporting infrastructure across the country, and hosting these Games aligns perfectly with that objective. We are excited to welcome the rest of Africa to Abuja in 2027, and with ANOCA’s collaboration, Nigeria will deliver a successful and memorable Games,” Dikko said.
The Director-General of the NSC, Bukola Olopade, said hosting the African School Games reflected the Commission’s commitment to grassroots sports development.
Olopade expressed confidence in Nigeria’s preparedness, noting that the Local Organising Committee had assembled a competent team to deliver a successful tournament.
“I am delighted that ANOCA is satisfied with the quality of the team we have put together to organise these Games, from the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Lekan Abari, to every committee member. It reflects Nigeria’s commitment to hosting a successful championship,” he said.
ANOCA President, Mustapha Berraf, commended the Federal Government and the NSC for their commitment to hosting the Games, describing the event as an investment in the future of African children.
“This is a great moment for sports in Africa and an even greater moment for our children. The signing of the Games Hosting Agreement confirms that the Games will be held in Abuja, and I wish Nigeria every success in hosting the event,” Berraf said.
At the ceremony, ANOCA presented an Honorary Award of Excellence to Dikko in recognition of his contributions to sports development in Nigeria and across Africa.
The organisation also honoured Olopade with a Plaque of Appreciation for his leadership and contributions to sports administration.
The event was attended by top ANOCA officials, including First Vice President João Da Costa, Secretary-General Ahmed Hashim, ANOCA Treasurer and President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Habu Gumel, and Nigeria Olympic Committee Secretary-General, Babatunde Popoola.
Other dignitaries present included the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports, Anthony Adeboye; Director-General of the National Institute for Sports, Philip Shaibu; the Algerian Ambassador to Nigeria, Hocine Mezoued; and Chairman of the Abuja 2027 Local Organising Committee, Lekan Abari, who unveiled the official logo and mascot for the Games during the ceremony.
