Tinubu to open Big Sports Dialogue 1.0 on Monday as Nigeria eyes a new era

By Maxwell Kumoye

Nigeria’s sports landscape is set for a major shake-up as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, is billed to officially declare open the Big Sports Dialogue 1.0 on Monday in Lagos.

Touted as a bold attempt to confront the long-standing challenges holding back Nigerian sports, the Dialogue will assemble some of the country’s most influential voices in sports governance, marketing, journalism, and athlete development.

THE GOAL:

• To rebuild

• Retool

• Reimagine Nigeria’s sports ecosystem

At the heart of this high powered gathering are key figures such as:

• Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman, National Sports Commission

• Honourable Bukola Olopade, Director General National Sports Commission

They will be joined by Rt. Honourable Philip Shaibu, newly appointed DG of the National Institute of Sports

• Consummate marketer Mike Itemuagbor

• Basketball sponsor and advocate Igoche Mark

Respected media heavyweights Aderonke Ararobin and Rufai Oseni are also part of the lion cast.

Former NFF President Amaju Pinnick is also listed among the speakers, alongside Rivers State Sports Commissioner Barrister Chris Green, NFF board member and broadcaster Aisha Falode, and notable voices such as Steve Oshio, Abubakar Lawal, Bashire Are, and renowned journalist Ruben Abati.

Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee, Osaze Ebueku, described the Dialogue as a national wake-up call.

“This is a call to action for all Nigerians to come together and shape the future of sports in the country,” he said.

Across its sessions, the Big Sports Dialogue will chart reforms around:

✓ Governance

✓ Funding

✓ Infrastructure

✓ Grassroots development

✓ Nigeria’s global competitiveness

These key areas, many believe are crucial if the nation hopes to reclaim its place among the world’s sporting powers.

With the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who has added some fillips to sports in the last two years, set to kick things off, expectations are sky high that this inaugural edition will spark the momentum needed to transform Nigerian sports from potential to powerhouse.

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