Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of Nigeria’s National Sports Commission (NSC), made waves at the recent Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) General Assembly in Algiers, culminating in a significant meeting with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.
During the encounter, Dikko relayed a message of goodwill from Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to President Tebboune and the Algerian populace, spotlighting the opportunity to expand bilateral ties beyond their robust commercial foundation into the realm of sports development.
Post-meeting, Dikko lauded Algeria’s proactive approach to sports, highlighting their strategic investments. “Algeria’s impressive efforts in domestic sports through targeted funding resonate with our goals,” he remarked. “Under our RHINSE strategy—resetting, refocusing, and relaunching Nigerian sports—this collaboration aligns perfectly with our vision, inspired by President Tinubu’s sports economy mandate.”
The visit also saw ANOCA honor President Tebboune with an award for his substantial contributions to African sports. In response, Tebboune outlined his ambitious blueprint for sports growth across Algeria and the continent, emphasizing grassroots development through school programs.
Algeria’s commitment to sports is evident in its substantial budget allocation—ranking second nationally—aimed at bolstering infrastructure and security while fostering economic gains. Tebboune proposed a unified African sports strategy, centered on school competitions and continent-wide talent scouting to elevate Africa’s standing in global events.
As a first step, Algeria will host the inaugural Africa School Sports Games in July 2025, pledging support to ensure broad participation from African nations.