The National Sports Commission has announced plans to hold open trials in the United Kingdom for Nigerian diaspora athletes as part of a their strategy aimed at strengthening talent identification and development, Saturday PUNCH reports.
The initiative, known as the Invited Diaspora Athletes programme, is designed to integrate Nigerian-born athletes based abroad into the country’s sporting structure and create clearer pathways to the national teams.
Outstanding performers will be considered for participation in the newly introduced Nigerian Intermediate Games.
The Intermediate Games have been created to address a developmental gap between youth and elite competitions, particularly for athletes aged 17 to 19.
Director general of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade, on Friday said the reforms are part of a structured long-term plan to reposition Nigerian sport and ensure no talent is overlooked.
“What we are doing at the National Sports Commission is not accidental, it is a deliberate, well-structured pathway to sporting excellence,” Olopade said.
“From discovering talents at the grassroots through the Invited Junior Athletes programme, to opening doors for our diaspora talents, and now creating the Intermediate Games to bridge the development gap, we are building a sustainable pipeline for Nigeria’s future champions.”
Olopade added that the overall goal is to provide a clear development structure for athletes at every level, from youth to elite competition.
“Our goal is clear: to ensure that no talent is lost and that every athlete has a defined pathway to reach elite performance and represent Nigeria with pride on the global stage,” he said.
As part of the new diaspora initiative, the NSC announced on Friday that 200 Nigerian athletes based abroad are expected to attend trials in the UK in May.
The commission says the aim is to ensure continuity in athlete development and better prepare athletes for senior-level competition.
According to the commission, the move builds on the success of the Invited Junior Athletes programme, which it says has already produced emerging talents who have progressed from grassroots competitions to international development pathways.
Younger athletes aged 10 to 16 are currently catered for through the National Youth Games, while elite prospects also compete at the National Sports Festival. The new structure is intended to bridge the gap between the two levels.
The commission says the reforms are part of a wider commitment to inclusive talent identification and long-term planning to improve Nigeria’s performance across all sporting disciplines.
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