The Chairman National Sports Commission (NSC) Shehu Dikko has created a dedicated budget line for traditional sports as part of efforts to promote, develop and internationalise Nigeria’s indigenous sporting activities.
Dikko disclosed this during the National Open Championship organised by the Traditional Sports Federation of Nigeria in Abuja.
The championship, which features Dambe, Kokowa, Ayo, Abula and Langa, is being held from Friday, August 14, to Sunday, August 16, 2026, at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Package A and B, Abuja.
The NSC top official said the creation of a specific budget line for traditional sports is a major step towards ensuring sustained government support and investment in indigenous games.
“For the first time in the history of sports, we have created a specific budget line for traditional sports,” the official said.
Dikko explained that the commission is already supporting traditional sports rather than merely planning to do so, adding that efforts were ongoing to promote, invest in and encourage their development.
He also urged traditional sports federations to strengthen their engagement with other African countries and work towards taking Nigerian traditional games beyond local festivals and competitions.
The NSC chairman noted that traditional sports could attract significant international investment, citing interest from Saudi Arabian investors in Dambe as an indication of the sector’s potential.
Dikko called on traditional rulers to play a more active role in promoting traditional sports across the country.
He noted that traditional rulers have demonstrated their ability to organise and promote activities such as horse racing and urged them to extend similar efforts to other indigenous sports.
According to him, traditional institutions should work closely with sports federations to strengthen the development and promotion of traditional games.
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He added that the new leadership of the relevant federation would be expected to engage traditional rulers and other stakeholders in advancing the sports.
The official said traditional sports competitions should be taken to different parts of Nigeria to expose more people to games traditionally associated with particular regions.
He suggested that national open competitions should rotate among the regions, allowing Nigerians in the East, West, North and other parts of the country to experience and participate in different traditional sports.
