The National Sports Commission (NSC) has reiterated
its commitment to building a sustainable sports economy, which will also
include tapping into the fast-growing eSports industry.
This was emphasized during a session where the NSC
Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, and Director General, Hon. Bukola Olopade,
received two private sector-driven presentations on funding and development
strategies for Nigerian sports.
The first presentation was delivered by Damilola
Pedro, Co-founder and Head of Partnerships at Game Africa. She highlighted the
multi-billion-dollar potential of eSports to revolutionize Nigeria’s sports
economy, stressing the opportunities for youth empowerment through video
gaming.
“Our presentation focuses on the untapped
opportunities in eSports to empower Nigerian youths using video games,” Pedro
explained.
“Nigeria has a viable pathway to unlock the next billions in gaming revenue.”
The second presentation came from Osi-Apagun Lai
Labode, MD/CEO of CashToken Rewards Africa. Labode unveiled the Nigeria
National Public-Private Universal Sports and Social Security System
(NINPPUSSS), a funding model designed to revolutionize sports development in
Nigeria through a “Chancified National Contribution.”
“Our model, developed after years of research, shows
how we can generate billions of naira annually for sports,” Labode stated.
“With the visionary leadership of Mallam Shehu Dikko and Honourable Bukola
Olopade, we believe this is achievable.”
The NINPPUSSS initiative aims to generate
approximately N1 Trillion annually. These funds are designed to be directed
towards promoting grassroots sports development and supporting athletes.
The NSC leadership expressed optimism about leveraging
these innovative approaches to achieve the Commission’s mandate of creating a
robust and sustainable sports ecosystem.
This development underscores the NSC’s readiness to
embrace cutting-edge solutions, including the integration of eSports, as a
critical component of Nigeria’s sports and economic future. The Commission is
committed to achieving President Bola Tinubu’s vision for a vibrant sports
economy in Nigeria.
Both Dikko and Olopade expressed their commitment to
exploring new approaches and modern funding models for inclusive sports
development.
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