Reporting by The Nation indicates that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has launched a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s sports sector, introducing the Renewed Hope Initiative for Nigeria’s Sports Economy (RHINSE). The President has mandated a complete “funding reset” starting in 2026, aimed at moving the industry away from total government dependence and toward a commercially viable model that promotes job creation and tourism.
The President expressed his dissatisfaction with bureaucratic bottlenecks that have historically hindered athlete development. Under the new framework, the National Sports Commission (NSC) will oversee a unified funding pool designed to provide early support for elite athletes and revitalize grassroots participation across all 36 states.
Validating the move, Channels TV reported that the reform is a response to Nigeria’s record-breaking performance in 2025, noting that “the administration wants to capitalize on recent international successes to drive foreign direct investment into sports infrastructure.” The Guardian also quoted a sports analyst saying, “This is the first time we are seeing a deliberate shift from sports as ‘social service’ to sports as ‘big business’ in Nigeria.”
Echotitbits take: Nigeria has long been a sporting giant with “clay feet” due to poor funding. By treating sports as an economic sector rather than just a hobby for the youth, the government is looking to tap into a multi-billion dollar global industry. Success will depend on whether private investors trust the new NSC structure enough to put their money into Nigerian stadia and academies.
Source: The Nation – https://thenationonlineng.net/tinubu-unveils-major-sports-sector-reform-orders-funding-reset-from-2026-2/, February 7, 2026
Photo credit: The Nation
