The Chairman of the Nigeria Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, recently hosted Mr. Shola Akinlade, a distinguished recipient of the national honor of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), for a pivotal meeting aimed at advancing sports in Nigeria.
Mr. Akinlade, a visionary software engineer and entrepreneur, is the co-founder and CEO of Paystack, a leading fintech company in Africa. Beyond his accomplishments in technology, Mr. Akinlade has demonstrated an unwavering passion for sports as a tool for community development and social transformation. He is the founder of Sporting Lagos Football Club, a progressive football initiative that fosters grassroots engagement and societal growth, and he also holds a controlling stake in Aarhus Fremad, a Danish second-division football club.
During the meeting, Mr. Akinlade shared his ambitious vision to invest in a world-class, multi-purpose stadium and entertainment arena in Nigeria. This state-of-the-art facility is designed to provide a platform for sports excellence, entertainment, and youth empowerment while contributing to Nigeria’s socio-economic development.
The Nigeria Sports Commission pledged its support for this groundbreaking initiative, emphasizing its alignment with the Commission’s broader objectives of fostering private-sector participation in sports infrastructure and talent development. The NSC will collaborate with Mr. Akinlade to facilitate the realization of this vision and ensure its sustainability.
Furthermore, discussions also centered on a mutual partnership for the NSC’s “Adopt-an-Athlete” program, a flagship initiative that provides targeted support to Nigerian athletes, enabling them to compete at the highest levels. Mr. Akinlade expressed his commitment to actively contribute to this program, which aligns with his philosophy of leveraging sports as a tool for societal advancement.
The NSC, under the leadership of Chairman Shehu Dikko, remains dedicated to forging strategic partnerships with stakeholders like Mr. Akinlade, whose innovative approach to sports and community development continues to inspire progress. This collaboration marks another significant step towards achieving the Commission’s vision of a thriving sports industry in Nigeria.
