President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reiterated his administration’s commitment to prioritizing grassroots sports development across Nigeria.
The President made this known at the Taiwo Awoniyi Media Centre, SWAN Secretariat, Stadium Complex, Ilorin, during a reception organized by the Kwara State chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) in honour of award recipients from the recently held National SWAN Golden Jubilee Ceremony in Abuja.
Represented by his Senior Special Adviser on Grassroots Sports Development, Mr. Anthony Adeboye Adeyinka ZuluAuthority, President Tinubu said the Renewed Hope Agenda places strong emphasis on discovering and nurturing young athletes from early stages.
According to him, the Federal Government is working to identify and groom promising talents from primary to tertiary institutions, noting that younger Nigerians who understand the value of sports must be supported to develop into athletes capable of representing the nation.
He added that the Tinubu administration has revived the “Hunt a Talent, Adopt a Talent” initiative — a programme that has significantly contributed to Nigeria’s sporting progress over the years.
“By adopting a talent, the government is getting it right. We believe strongly in grassroots development. It is time for us to start from the primary schools, then secondary schools, up to higher institutions, and select the best talents to represent each state and the country at large,” he said.
President Tinubu also emphasized the unifying power of sports, describing it as one of the strongest tools for national cohesion.
“It is high time we put our heads together and believe that Nigeria is one. Sports keeps everybody together. We still have a long way to go in sports development, and we must continue working until we get there,” he added.
Mr. Adeyinka ZuluAuthority commended Kwara SWAN for its consistent and impactful initiatives over the years, noting the association’s vital role in advancing sports development in Nigeria.
He stressed that sports journalism remains a critical component of the nation’s sporting ecosystem, saying, “We can’t discuss sports without talking about sports journalism and SWAN.”
He further revealed that, going forward, SWAN would be carried along in national sports appointments and in the formation of sports boards and associations, describing sports journalism as a key pillar supporting administration and development in the sector.
