Adeyinka Adeboye Leads Summit for Grassroots Sports Development

The 2026 National Grassroots Sports Development Summit is set for November 18 and 19 at the Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja. The summit aims to create sustainable pathways for young athletes transitioning from schools and communities to elite competition.

Chaired by Adeyinka Anthony Adeboye, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports Development, the Main Organising Committee (MOC) has been reviewing preparations, focusing on stakeholder mobilisation, technical sessions, logistics, and private-sector participation. Adeboye emphasized the need for practical solutions rather than mere discussions, stating that Nigeria requires a structured system for early talent identification and development.

Key sessions will address challenges in grassroots sports and the role of sports in youth empowerment and national unity. Adeboye called for increased private-sector involvement, asserting that the development of young talents requires a collective national effort.

He urged the MOC to ensure the summit produces actionable recommendations that will shape the future of grassroots sports in Nigeria.