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The ultimate aim of the National Sports Commission (NSC) is to achieve podium performances at the Olympics, based on sustainable domestic development.
To achieve this goal, the commission is committed to supporting sports development with a forward-thinking approach to ensure strong performance in the Olympics starting from Los Angeles 2028.
This was highlighted by the chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, during a visit from the Showtime Flag Football League (SFFL), the leading organizers of flag football in Nigeria.
Dikko, represented by Bar. Musa Amadu, Senior Special Adviser to the NSC Chairman, expressed readiness to support SFFL in efforts to professionalize the sport, foster grassroots development, transition into a Federation, and establish a strong Olympic presence.
He stated, “We have observed the global growth of flag football, which has been recognized as an Olympic sport for LA 2028. We are committed to providing all necessary assistance to make this sport a significant force in the country.
The NSC is eager to collaborate with the private sector for sports development, and we appreciate your existing functional flag football arena in Lekki. This represents a new variant of American football, and we aim to collaborate to give it a national dimension.”
The NSC chairman is particularly focused on grassroots development, aiming to identify and nurture young talents in the sport. “If you have been following our initiatives since we took office, you would see our dedication to grassroots sports development. The assurance of sports future lies at this level.
“This is a new sport, and capturing young talent is essential. We are actively engaged in school sports through partnerships with NSSF, NUGA, NIPOGA, NACEGA, among others. By introducing the sport at primary schools, we can nurture talent from a young age, potentially leading to their eventual export and revenue generation,” he remarked.
He emphasized the importance of showcasing the sport at the Olympics, starting with LA 2028. “It is a new sport, and we must present ourselves at LA 2028. Affiliation is crucial. It is necessary to consolidate the various flag football leagues across the country into a single entity to establish a structure. Once accomplished, it will be easier to advocate for the creation of a Flag Football Federation, which is essential for affiliation with IFAF,” he added.
There are also promising opportunities for the sport to be featured as a demonstration event at the National Sports Festival in Abeokuta 2025 and NUGA 2025.
“I, along with DG Hon. Olapade, will engage with the relevant departments to explore the possibility of featuring it as a demonstration sport at the National Sports Festival. It is also highly feasible to showcase the sport at NUGA later this year, paving the way for it to become a NUGA sport in the future,” he pointed out.
The delegation included CEO of Showtime Flag Football, Manal Nassar, and representatives Folajimi Akinsola (Chairman Showtime Flag), Adebare Adejumo (Commissioner Showtime Flag), and Esther Kalu (Head of Communication Showtime Flag). They made a compelling case to gain the Commission's support in their pursuit of evolving into a Federation.
