In line with current trends in the global sports administration landscape, the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) have agreed to work together for the purposes of digitalizing sports and games administration in the country.
The agreement was reached during a high-level meeting between the Director-General of the NSC, Bukola Olopade and the NCC Chairman, Chief Idris Olorunnimbe, when the former led a delegation of his commission on a courtesy visit to the latter in Abuja.
Speaking during the meeting, the NSC boss expressed the readiness of his commission to embrace technology as a catalytic tool for sports development, noting that partnership with the NCC will enhance connectivity, boost sponsorship opportunities, and enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness in e-sports.
The sports administrator explained that private sector participation, particularly through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), would be helpful in building a modern sports ecosystem powered by digital innovation for the country.
- Advertisement -
In his remarks during the parley, the NCC Chairman promised strong institutional backing of the commission for the initiative, describing e-sports as a viable extension of traditional sports with vast socioeconomic potential in terms of youth employment and others for Nigeria’s development.
Olorunibe also advocated the need for the development of gaming hubs, improved broadband capacity, and enabling policies to unlock the country’s yet-to-be-explored huge sporting talents in the digital gaming landscape.
The meeting was rounded off with both agencies agreeing to establish a joint technical working group that will develop a comprehensive roadmap for sports digitalisation, including the structuring of e-sports leagues and strategies to attract corporate sponsorship into the sector.
Experts believe that planned collaboration of the two commissions to promote technology-driven sporting and gaming activities in the country, if consummated, will help to improve Nigeria’s performance in regional and global sporting events with the attendant positive implications for the nation’s development in the years ahead.
