NSC spreads tentacles with Diaspora Talents Discovery Committee

In a renewed effort to reposition the sports sector and ensure more podium appearances on the global stage, the National Sports Commission (NSC) has appointed a sports technocrat, Tunde Adelakun as chairman of its newly established Diaspora Talents Discovery Committee. The Commission said the committee is of great importance to it, as it will further […]

In a renewed effort to reposition the sports sector and ensure more podium appearances on the global stage, the National Sports Commission (NSC) has appointed a sports technocrat, Tunde Adelakun as chairman of its newly established Diaspora Talents Discovery Committee.

The Commission said the committee is of great importance to it, as it will further strengthen the Renewed Hope Initiative for Nigeria’s sports development through scientific approaches to achieving sustainable podium excellence.

The Director General of the NSC, Hon. Bukola Olopade, who announced the appointment said Adelakun was appointed based on his wealth of experience in sports, especially within the diaspora.

It will be recalled that Adelakun featured prominently in the Super Eagles set up when Gernat Rohr served as the Technical Adviser of the team.

Apart from serving as Rohr’s personal assistant and close confident, he played a pivotal role in the discovery of most of the new players that emerged during the reign of the Franco-German football tactician.

Speaking on the Commission’s latest strategy aimed at discovering Nigerian talents based abroad, Hon. Olopade said “Myself and Mallam Shehu Dikko are very excited with the direction we are heading to ensure we harness all the resources we have as a country, both at home and abroad, to achieve sports excellence, and this committee will take care of the diaspora aspect.

“Adelakun, with his rich diaspora network and connections, will help us to get thousands of our sons and daughters willing to represent our great country with pride and dignity,” he said.

The newly appointed Chairman, Tunde Adelakun, said the appointment means a lot to him and described the initiative as one that will change the landscape of Nigerian sports.

“This is a case of adopting international best practices to harness all the resources, both at home and abroad, to attain sporting excellence.

“We have a lot of Nigerians in the diaspora who are willing to compete for the country, and our job is mainly to create that smooth platform for them to feel that homely welcome.

It would be recalled that before the establishment of the Diaspora Talent Discovery Committee, the NSC had constituted the Elite Athletes Development and Podium Board with an Olympian, Yusuf Ali, as the board’s Chief Executive Office (CEO).

This board is saddled with the mandate of creating a sustainable system for Nigeria elites and their welfare.

This equally important committee has 13 members drawn from a pool of highly versatile former Nigerian international athletes and astute sports administrators Prof. Ken Anugweje who serves as Adviser and Member.

While inaugurating the board in January 2025, Hon. Olopade said “What we have done now is to ensure that there is a sustainable system that will empower potential athletes that will be on the podium for the Country and this is one of many initiatives that the Commission will be rolling out under the Renewed Hope Initiative initiative for Nigerian Sports Economy,”