Elegbede Abiodun
Bukola Olopade attributes success to the Federal Government’s commitment to sports development.
Nigeria has secured the hosting rights for the 2027 Africa Beach Volleyball Championship, with Lagos set to stage the continental showpiece as the country continues its drive to establish itself as a leading destination for major international sporting events.
The announcement was made in Abuja by the President of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA), Mustapha Berraf, who praised Nigeria’s growing influence in African sports administration and event hosting.
The championship represents the latest milestone in the expanding partnership between Nigeria and ANOCA, coming shortly after the country was awarded the hosting rights for the second edition of the African School Games, also scheduled for 2027.
Berraf said Nigeria’s recent achievements in sports development, driven by the leadership of the National Sports Commission (NSC), convinced ANOCA to entrust the country with another major continental event.
“I want to thank the Federal Government of Nigeria for what it has been doing in sports in recent times. That is why we wasted no time in awarding Nigeria the hosting rights,” Berraf said.
He noted that Nigeria has consistently demonstrated its ability to organise major sporting competitions, citing the successful hosting of the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Africa Under-18 and Under-20 Championships in Abeokuta after stepping in at short notice.
“My late friend, the former President of the Confederation of African Athletics, Kalkaba Malboum, often spoke about how Nigeria came to the rescue by hosting the championships in Abeokuta after preparing for the event in just three months.
“Only a country that is deliberate and committed to sports development can achieve such a feat,” he added.
Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, described the hosting rights as another major step in the Commission’s strategy of using international sporting events to stimulate Nigeria’s sports economy.
“We are committed to growing the country’s sports economy, and one of the most effective ways of achieving that is by attracting major international competitions to Nigeria,” Dikko said.
Director General of the NSC, Hon. Bukola Olopade, attributed the country’s recent success in securing hosting rights to the Federal Government’s commitment to sports development.
According to him, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has created an enabling environment that has strengthened Nigeria’s credibility on the continental sporting stage.
Meanwhile, Nigeria could soon secure another landmark hosting opportunity, with advanced discussions underway for the country to stage Africa’s Olympic qualification events ahead of the 2030 Olympic Games.
ANOCA and the African Union are exploring plans to host the qualifiers in Nigeria, a move aimed at reducing the financial burden on African nations that currently travel to Europe and other continents to compete for Olympic qualification.
If approved, the initiative would further reinforce Nigeria’s position as one of Africa’s leading hosts of international sporting events while strengthening its growing partnership with continental sports bodies.
