World News Update

PRESS STATEMENT  The House of Representatives has called for increased budgetary allocation for sports to fast-track the achievement of Nigeria’s sports development objectives. The call was made during the Commission’s 2026 budget defence before the House Committee on Sports. Lawmakers commended the NSC for prudent utilization of resources and visible improvements across the sports sector, noting that both approval and diligent implementation of budgetary provisions remain critical to sustained progress. Presenting the Commission’s proposal, Chairman of the NSC, Mallam Shehu Dikko, outlined plans to consolidate recent gains through strategic investments in infrastructure and sports development. “We are building on a foundation to Reset, Refocus, and Relaunch our sports sector. It is built on the back of transparency and measurable results,” Dikko said. “Our 2026 budget proposal prioritizes many areas and not limited to infrastructure renewal, youth talent development and strengthen...

With just three days to the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, a familiar question is back on the streets and among athletics watchers across the country: who will rise to surpass the Nigerian standard set by Nyango Gyang Boyi? Boyi etched his name into the history of the race as the first Nigerian to finish the Lagos marathon, delivering a landmark performance that redefined local ambition. He powered his way into the overall top 10, finishing eighth with a time of 2:25:41.58, a result that carried both prestige and reward. That historic run earned Boyi a $4,000 prize for his overall placement, alongside the ₦2 million top prize in the Nigerian category. More importantly, it proved that Nigerian runners could compete shoulder to shoulder with elite international fields on home soil. As the countdown ticks on, attention now shifts to the next wave of local contenders. Can anyone match Boyi’s grit, pace and composure over 42.195 kilometres? Or will a new name emerge to push the benchmark ...

PRESS STATEMENT Nigeria  will take centre stage in African road running as Lagos State hosts the Africa Running Conference 2026, a two-day continental gathering designed to reshape the future of running and mass participation sports across Africa. The conference, organised under the auspices of World Athletics in collaboration with the National Sport Commission, will hold on Thursday, February 12 (Workshops) and Friday, February 13, 2026 (Conference), ahead of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon scheduled for February 14, 2026. With the theme “Reshaping Running and Mass Participation in Africa: Embracing the Global Community,” the conference will bring together leading voices from global and African athletics, sports governance, finance, and mass participation platforms to discuss sustainability, innovation and growth in road running. A distinguished lineup of speakers has been confirmed for the event, including Dr. Paul Tergat, former marathon world record holder, Kenyan Olympic l...

 _tasks the new board to align its mandate with the RHINSE Agenda_ The National Sports Commission, NSC , has charged the new board of the Nigeria Federation of American Football, NFAF, to set new standards and write their names in Gold as pioneer members of the board of the American Football Federation. This is according to the Chairman of the NSC, Mallam Shehu Dikko as he officially inaugurated the latest Sport Federation in the Country. The NSC Boss who commended the charismatic leadership of the Director General, Hon Bukola Olopade, for brokering peace amongst the various Warring factions in the Sports, said Nigeria can now fully maximise the potential it has in American football with the Sports being officially run as a Federation. " Just days ago, the world watched the Super Bowl, the biggest stage in American football. That event gave Nigerians much to be proud of. Six athletes of Nigerian descent took part in the game, four of them emerged on the winning side". " ...

Its bid to stage a successful  second edition of the African Youth Games, tagged Abuja 2027, the National Sports Commission has officially inaugurated the Local Organising Committee for the Games. The 28 member committee was inaugurated by the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, NSC , Mallam Shehu Dikko, with the clear mandate to organise the best ever staged youth Games on the continent. The Chairman assured the LOC of the Commission's  total support to deliver on the given assignment while assuring the rest of Africa and ANOCA of the federal Government's commitment to host an international standard games. " I congratulate all the LOC members on their appointments, knowing full well that you all have been entrusted with a serious national assignment. Your work will require planning, coordination, transparency and team work for the desired success to be achieved". " I want to assure all our African partners and stakeholders that Abuja 2027 will be safe, w...

PRESS STATEMENT Twenty-six (26) Nigerian athletes have received a major morale boost ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, as the National Sports Commission (NSC), through its Elite and Podium Board, has disbursed training grants totaling over ₦200 million to selected top-performing athletes. The athletes were drawn from both foreign-based and home-based categories, benefitting from the grants, as it will cater for their training and preparation expenses. The recipients cut across several sports, including athletics, wrestling, weightlifting and para-sports, in line with the Commission’s mandate to prioritise athlete welfare and high-performance development. The disbursement follows the establishment of the Elite and Podium Board, created to implement a scientific and institutionalised support system aimed at sustaining peak performances by Nigerian athletes at major international competitions. Athletes in weightlifting, athletics, taekwondo, powerlifting, para table tennis,...