The President’s declaration came as he celebrated Nigeria’s extraordinary sports performance in 2025, during which Nigerian athletes secured 373 medals across multiple sporting disciplines. The nation’s sporting triumphs ranged from individual track and field champions to the Super Eagles’ bronze-medal finish at AFCON 2025, alongside victorious women’s football and basketball squads that “brought honor to the country,” according to Tinubu.
Tinubu commended the National Sports Commission (NSC) and its chairman, Malam Shehu Dikko, for implementing reforms consistent with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, acknowledging significant progress despite persistent financial and infrastructure constraints.
The President acknowledged that Nigerian sports have historically been hampered by administrative inefficiencies, scattered budget allocations, and insufficient capital investment in facilities, creating obstacles to athlete preparation and global competitiveness. “This pattern has weakened performance and put our sportsmen and women at a disadvantage. We must break this cycle,” Tinubu declared.