Dakar 2026: “Today’s Young Athletes Are Tomorrow’s Olympic Champions” — SSA Adeboye Charges Team Nigeria
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports Development, Hon. Adeyinka Anthony Adeboye, has charged Nigeria’s contingent to the forthcoming Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, to represent the country with pride, discipline and patriotism, describing the competition as a major opportunity to nurture the next generation of Nigerian sporting champions.
Adeboye gave the charge at the send-forth ceremony organised by the National Sports Commission (NSC) in Abuja on Tuesday, where the young athletes were formally presented in their green-and-white national kits ahead of their scheduled departure for Senegal on Thursday.
The Presidential aide, who attended the ceremony, commended the efforts to identify and prepare emerging talents for international competition, stressing that Nigeria’s long-term sporting success depends on sustained investment in grassroots development and opportunities for young athletes to demonstrate their abilities.
“Today’s young athletes are tomorrow’s Olympic champions. What matters is giving them the right opportunities, guidance and support to develop their potential. These young Nigerians carry the hopes of their families, communities and country,” Adeboye said.
He noted that competing at the Youth Olympic Games would expose the athletes to international standards, strengthen their confidence and provide valuable experience as they work towards future senior competitions, including the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Adeboye also emphasised the importance of programmes that identify promising athletes early and provide them with structured pathways to elite competition.
He highlighted the potential of the National Sports Commission’s Invited Junior Athletes (IJA) programme to help uncover young talents who might otherwise remain undiscovered, particularly those emerging from grassroots communities.
According to him, Nigeria must build a sporting system that consistently discovers, develops and supports talent rather than relying solely on individual breakthroughs.
“Grassroots sports development is where the journey begins. We must identify talents early, nurture them properly and give them access to quality coaching and competitions. Our ambition should be to create a system that produces champions consistently,” he added.
The ceremony also marked the formal handover of the Nigerian contingent by the NSC to the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) ahead of the team’s departure.
NOC President Engr. Habu Gumel received the athletes and assured the Commission that they would be supported during the Games, while emphasising the importance of clean competition.
The Youth Olympic Games will take place from October 31 to November 13, 2026, in Dakar, making Senegal the host of the first Olympic event to be staged on African soil.
Adeboye expressed confidence that the experience would inspire the athletes to pursue greater achievements and reinforce the importance of investing in young Nigerians as the foundation of the country’s sporting future.
