By Umar Farouq Auwal,Gago Football Analyst in Nigeria
After conducting extensive research and analysis, I have observed that the National Sports Commission (NSC), under the leadership of its Chairman, appears to be paying more attention to football than to other sports. But the question is: Why?
Nigeria is a blessed country with more than 40 different sports, but why does the NSC appear to focus more on football than on other sporting disciplines?
Could it be because the Chairman previously held prominent positions in football administration and has extensive knowledge of how the football industry operates, including how funding and revenue can be generated within the sector?
If that is the case, we should remember that the NSC is responsible for overseeing and developing all sports in Nigeria, not football alone.
As the head of an institution responsible for sports development across the country, every sporting discipline should be given adequate attention and opportunities so that the Commission can properly fulfil its responsibilities.
The Chairman should also focus more on sports development and the welfare of Nigerian athletes, rather than what may appear to be excessive foreign trips and international engagements that do not directly address the challenges facing sports in Nigeria.
We have not seen enough evidence of visits to other countries specifically to study successful sports-development models, identify opportunities for Nigerian athletes and young people, or bring back practical solutions that could help address the challenges affecting different sporting disciplines in Nigeria.
MAJOR SPORTS PLAYED IN NIGERIA
1. Badminton
2. Basketball
3. Athletics / Track and Field
4. Boxing
5. Wrestling
6. Volleyball
7. Handball
8. Tennis
9. Table Tennis
10. Golf
I have not included traditional sports such as Dambe, Kokawa and Traditional Archery in this list. In my next article, I will provide a more comprehensive list of the different sports played in Nigeria.
But the question remains: Among these 10 sports, which ones have experienced significant development under the NSC? In which areas can we clearly see or feel the impact of the NSC?
In my view, the impact is still not sufficiently visible across these sporting disciplines.
My intention is to draw attention to the need for a more balanced approach to sports development in Nigeria. Other sporting disciplines should not be neglected while football receives greater attention.
Every sporting discipline deserves appropriate attention, support and development from the NSC.
During the years of the current NSC leadership, we should be able to see efforts to revive sports that have declined or are close to disappearing, develop and rehabilitate sporting facilities, and provide meaningful support for athletes especially women and young people so that they can compete successfully in Africa and around the world.
At present, Nigeria faces several challenges in sports development, including inadequate sporting facilities, insufficient support for athletes, and limited attention to some sporting disciplines by the Federal Government. These are areas that the National Sports Commission should address as part of its responsibilities.
Therefore, we call on the National Sports Commission to take a broader look at sports development across Nigeria rather than focusing predominantly on one discipline.
Every sporting discipline has the right to receive appropriate attention, support and opportunities.
We also call on the Federal Government of Nigeria to examine these issues and find sustainable ways to revive and develop sports across the country, so that young people and Nigerian athletes can have better opportunities to represent the nation in Africa and around the world.
This is Part One of my analysis.
We will meet again in the next article, where I will continue examining the condition of different sporting disciplines that are currently facing serious challenges in Nigeria.
If you genuinely care about the development of sports in Nigeria, please help share this message so that it can reach relevant stakeholders, particularly the National Sports Commission and the Federal Government, with the hope that meaningful improvements and development can be achieved in Nigerian sports.
I will continue writing and researching until this message reaches the appropriate authorities.
Written on 16 September 2026.
