By Musa Ibrahim
The Chairman of National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko, has thrown his weight behind Abia State’s Adopt-a-Sport policy, describing it as a model worthy of replication across Nigeria.
He specifically commended the state’s commitment to para-badminton, urging other states to identify and nurture sports where they hold comparative advantage.
Mallam Dikko made the remarks in Abuja when he received the Abia State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Hon. Nwaobilor Ananaba, alongside the President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), Mr. Francis Orbih. The delegation had recently visited to brief the NSC on preparations for the twin para-badminton tournaments scheduled to take place in Umuahia, Abia State later this year.
Abia State will host the first-ever Para-Badminton International Championships from September 30 to October 5, 2025, followed immediately by the All-African Para-Badminton Championships from October 6 to 12, 2025.
In a statement by Dr. (Mrs.) Kehinde Ajayi, the NSC’s Director of Information and PR, Mallam Dikko commended Abia’s foresight in developing para-badminton into a flagship sport.
“I must congratulate you on what Abia State is doing. We witnessed a very exciting event that broke the ceiling and set the path for others. That is a benchmark we can ask other states to adopt,” he said.
“I even visited the Governor to commend him and to explore how we can work together to make sports better, not just in Abia but across the country.”
The NSC Chairman pledged full support for the international tournaments, stressing that they align with the Commission’s vision of positioning Nigeria as a hub for global sporting events.
“We want to host as many international tournaments as possible. Whatever we can do to facilitate this, we will do. You can be rest assured of our support,” he assured.
He further emphasized that every state must identify its strength in sports and deliberately invest in it.
“We advocate that all states should adopt a particular sport, promote it, and invest in it. This will make our work easier. We will use Abia’s model as an example when we engage other governors,” he added.
The event also provided an opportunity to celebrate one of Nigeria’s shining stars, Eniola Bolaji, a paralympian who has dominated the global stage this year, winning all four international championships she featured in. Mallam Dikko applauded her achievements, disclosing that she has been placed in Category A of the NSC’s athlete grant programme for the last quarter. He also presented her with the prestigious African Women Award in Sports.
Speaking earlier, Abia’s Sports Commissioner, Hon. Ananaba, said that the state’s consistent investment in para-badminton over the past decade reflects its broader agenda of inclusion through sports. He assured that the forthcoming events will spotlight Nigeria’s capacity to host world-class tournaments.
Similarly, BFN President, Mr. Orbih, revealed that 16 countries have confirmed participation in the international para-badminton championships while 15 countries will compete in the continental edition—a development he described as a major boost for Nigerian sports diplomacy.
With Abia State taking the lead, stakeholders agree that the Adopt-a-Sport model offers a blueprint for other states to deepen grassroots development, promote inclusivity, and position Nigeria more strongly in the international sports arena.
