Shehu Dikko urges Nigerian royal fathers to back traditional sports

National Sports Commission chairman Shehu Dikko has called on royal fathers across Nigeria to help grow traditional sports in their communities. He said the commission has introduced a dedicated budget line for the sector and included annual funding to increase participation and development.

Dikko made the appeal during a visit to the Abula venue at Package B of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja. He said the funding marks the first time traditional sports have received a specific line in the National Sports Commission’s budget.

The commission wants traditional sports to move beyond festivals and limited local competitions. Dikko said the activities should be developed to internationally recognised standards, giving them broader participation in Nigeria and greater exposure outside the country.

He also asked the Traditional Sports Federation of Nigeria to take its competitions to communities across all parts of the country. The call comes as dambe has attracted investment interest from Saudi Arabia, presenting a possible route for one of the disciplines to gain a wider international profile.

Dikko identified abula, dambe, kokuwa, langa and ayo as sports that deserve nationwide promotion. He described them as part of Nigeria’s ancestral sporting heritage and said sustained investment was needed to protect that heritage while expanding involvement.

The NSC chairman also stressed the importance of introducing the sports in schools rather than waiting until people reach adulthood. He said royal rulers should work with the relevant federations to extend their reach, citing the role traditional leaders have already played in promoting horse racing across the country.