2026 World Relays, African Championships: NSC hails rising stars as Nigeria’s athletics future shines

Posted : 22 May 2026

The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, has applauded the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the country’s young athletes for their impressive performances at the recently concluded World Relays and the African Senior Athletics Championships in Accra, Ghana.

Olopade said the outings have reinforced confidence in the future of athletics in Nigeria, particularly with the emergence of several promising young talents.

Reflecting on Team Nigeria’s performance at the World Relays, he described qualification in three of the six relay events as a significant achievement, especially considering the relative inexperience of many athletes in the squad.

According to him, the competition provided clear evidence that the country possesses a new generation of athletes capable of competing at the highest level.

“The performance at the World Relays was good. Qualifying in three out of the six relays was a plus considering that many of the athletes who made us proud are relatively inexperienced, but you can already see the future in these young talents,” Olopade stated.

The NSC boss also commended Team Nigeria’s showing at the African Senior Athletics Championships, where the nation’s young female athletes delivered standout performances.

He specifically praised athletes such as Miracle Ezechukwu, noting that the success recorded by the young competitors reflects the effectiveness of grassroots development programmes being driven by the NSC and AFN.

“What the young girls did at the African Championships is a big plus. Look at athletes like Miracle Ezechukwu and a few others. It shows that what the NSC and AFN are doing to catch them young is working,” he said.

Olopade further stressed that Nigeria’s four gold medals at the championships represent more than just podium finishes, adding that the performances have inspired optimism about the long-term future of the sport in the country.

“Beyond winning four gold medals, you can clearly see that the future is bright for athletics in Nigeria with what those young girls achieved,” he concluded.

The remarkable exploits of these emerging stars underscore the vital importance of sustained investment in grassroots athletics across the federation. By securing critical relay qualifications and major continental medals, this new generation has demonstrated its readiness for elite global competition. The National Sports Commission and the Athletics Federation of Nigeria remain committed to nurturing these raw talents to guarantee long-term international success.

2026 World Relays, African Championships: NSC hails rising stars as Nigeria’s athletics future shines

ADD A COMMENT :

Hot Topics