The National Sports Commission (NSC), on Wednesday, partnered with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) with a pledge to support sports development across the country.
As part of efforts to revitalize sports, engage youths in productive activities, and strengthen Nigeria’s global sports presence, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, also sought the NSC’s support to host the African Volleyball Inter-Club Women’s Championship.
The Chairman of NSC, Shehu Dikko, disclosed this while receiving a delegation from the Nigeria Customs Service, led by the Comptroller-General, Alhaji Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, during a courtesy visit to his office in Abuja.
Dikko commended the Customs Service for its significant contributions and unwavering support toward sports development in Nigeria.
He emphasized the Commission’s commitment to harnessing the economic potential of sports and transforming the industry into a major contributor to national growth.
Dikko said: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his Renewed Hope Agenda, has declared sports a national asset, and we are aligned with that vision. To achieve this, we must ensure the functionality and success of the sports industry.
“We need to measure our progress in sports through the development we achieve internally, the jobs we create, and our contribution to the country’s GDP. That way, we know the sports industry is succeeding.”
He also called for closer collaboration between the Commission and the Customs to promote the use of locally made sports equipment, stressing that it is a vital aspect of the sports industry agenda.
In his remarks, Adeniyi emphasised the Nigeria Customs Service’s (NCS) commitment to using sports as a tool to promote national pride, foster unity, and provide opportunities for youth development.
The Customs boss commended the NSC’s leadership for its professionalism and expressed optimism that Nigeria’s sporting glory would be revived.
He also voiced confidence that the championship, scheduled for April 2025 in Abuja, would attract top teams from across Africa.
Adeniyi said: “For the first time in a long time, we have tested and accomplished professionals driving sports development in Nigeria. We have no doubt that the glory days of sports are back.”
He revealed that the Nigeria Customs Service had been granted hosting rights by the Nigeria Olympic Committee to organize the championship in collaboration with the Nigeria Volleyball Federation from April 1 to 14, 2025.
The CGC expressed the Service’s readiness to extend its support to the Commission and vowed to deliver a memorable tournament that would reflect Nigeria’s growing stature in sports.
Also speaking, the President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Engr Habu Gumel, praised CGC Adeniyi for his innovative approach to integrating sports into the Customs Service’s culture and affirmed his unwavering commitment to making the tournament successful.
He said: “We must be deliberate in our preparations and ensure that this championship becomes a springboard for hosting more international tournaments. The National Sports Commission is fully committed to providing all necessary support.”
THE GUARDIAN
