The National Sports Commission (NSC) has continued its nationwide Youth Appreciation Tour, recognising outstanding young athletes in Abuja and Asaba. This latest round of accolades brings the total number of honourees to eleven.

The Abuja leg of the tour, held on Wednesday at the Nigerian Tulip International College, saw prominent figures in attendance, including the Chairman of the NSC, Mallam Shehu Dikko, Director General Hon. Bukola Olopade, and former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, now Presidential Spokesman, Hon. Sunday Dare.

Speaking at the Abuja event, Hon. Sunday Dare expressed his satisfaction with the progress in youth sports development. He remarked, “I’m excited because what is being done aligns with the universal laws of sowing as we know it – find promising stars early, nurture them and then the harvest comes. We have continued to partner with the private sector, and the seeds we sowed four years ago are what we are harvesting today. Credit must go to the Chairman and Director General of the National Sports Commission for their insight and commitment to sustaining this vision.”

Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the National Sports Commission, reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to youth and grassroots sports. “Youth and grassroots development are at the core of what we do. We want to raise the standards of school sports and ensure that schools at all levels, primary, secondary and universities, receive the necessary support to discover and nurture athletes in collaboration with the National Sports Commission,” Dikko stated.

Hon. Bukola Olopade, Director General of the NSC, highlighted the Commission’s focus on strengthening partnerships between educational institutions and the sports sector, while prioritising athlete welfare. “We will continue to encourage strong relationships between schools and sports. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has always made it clear that Nigerian athletes must never feel abandoned or neglected, and that is the commitment of this Commission,” Hon. Olopade said.

Notably, Hon. Sunday Dare had previously forged a significant partnership with Nigerian Tulip International College during his tenure as Sports Minister, a collaboration that continues to bolster youth sports development.

Among the athletes celebrated in Abuja were Rosemary Chigozie Nwankwo and Miracle Oluebube Ezechukwu, two exceptional junior athletes who emerged from the invited junior athletes initiative. Both went on to represent Nigeria at the CAA African U18/U20 Athletics Championships, securing gold medals, before earning further medals at the African Youth Games in Angola and the African School Games in Algeria.

Other recipients of the appreciation programme included taekwondo athletes Crown Umeh and Unique Umeh, who each received ₦1 million in recognition of their achievements. Unique Umeh had previously won a bronze medal at the inaugural African School Games in Algeria.

In athletics, Andrew Miracle Yemi, an African Junior standout, was awarded ₦2 million for his accomplishments. Adaeze Precious also received ₦1 million, while Rosemary Chigozie Nwankwo was presented with ₦3 million for her outstanding performances. Miracle Ezechukwu, the West African and Nigerian champion, was also acknowledged with a ₦3 million reward for his remarkable achievements.

Concurrently, another NSC team conducted a similar recognition event in Asaba, Delta State. The team, led by the Director of Grassroots Development, Chief Amaka Ashiofu, alongside the Director of FEADS, Madam Mbora Ikana, honoured promising athletes and medal winners, Udoh David and Gowon Oghenerunor.

The Youth Appreciation Tour is set to continue in Uyo on Thursday, where the Commission plans to honour additional junior sports stars, underscoring the NSC’s dedication to grassroots sports development. This tour forms part of the Commission’s broader strategy to support and reward emerging talents, thereby strengthening the foundation of Nigerian sports through structured grassroots initiatives.