The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports Development, Hon. Adeyinka Anthony Adeboye, has lauded the landmark resolutions reached at the high-level strategic meeting between the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), describing the decisions as bold reforms that will reposition Nigerian football from the grassroots to the elite level.
Reacting to the outcomes of the meeting, Hon. Adeboye commended the leadership of the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko; the President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau; and other stakeholders for demonstrating visionary leadership in advancing the nation’s football ecosystem.
According to the SSA, the resolutions align perfectly with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, particularly in the areas of youth empowerment, talent development, job creation, sports infrastructure, and sustainable sports administration.
“The decisions reached by the National Sports Commission and the Nigeria Football Federation represent a significant milestone in the ongoing transformation of Nigerian football. They reflect the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose administration is committed to building sustainable structures that will empower young Nigerians through sports,” he said.
Hon. Adeboye particularly welcomed the decision to improve the welfare of players and coaches, describing the introduction of a minimum monthly salary for NPFL players and the record prize money for league clubs as game-changing reforms capable of making the domestic league more competitive.
“Player welfare is fundamental to sports development. When athletes are properly motivated and rewarded, they perform better, clubs become stronger, and the league becomes more attractive to investors, sponsors, and supporters. These reforms will undoubtedly raise the standard of Nigerian football,” the Presidential Aide said.
The SSA also applauded the extension of Super Eagles Head Coach Eric Sékou Chelle’s contract and his appointment as Head Coach of the Olympic Eagles, noting that a unified technical philosophy would strengthen Nigeria’s player development pathway from the youth teams to the senior national team.
He further described the proposed return of the Nigeria Premier Football League to mainstream television as a strategic step toward increasing the league’s visibility, commercial value, and global appeal.
“Football thrives on visibility. Bringing the NPFL back to mainstream television will not only attract more fans and sponsors but will also provide our players with the exposure they deserve. This is another important step in repositioning Nigerian football,” he noted.
Hon. Adeboye reiterated that sustainable football development must begin at the grassroots, stressing that the reforms announced by the NSC and the NFF complement the vision of his office to strengthen talent discovery, improve sports infrastructure, and create structured pathways for young athletes across the 774 Local Government Areas of the country.
“The future of Nigerian football lies in the grassroots. As we continue to build strong foundations through community sports, school sports, and youth development initiatives, these elite-level reforms provide the necessary pathway for our young talents to progress and excel,” Adeboye said.
The SSA reaffirmed the commitment of the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports Development to collaborating with the National Sports Commission, the Nigeria Football Federation, state governments, private sector partners, and other stakeholders in driving policies and programmes that will ensure long-term growth and global competitiveness for Nigerian football.
