THE TIME FOR THE NSC TO ESTABLISH THE NIGERIA FEDERATION OF GRASSROOTS SPORT DEVELOPMENT (NFGSD) IS NOW.*

By Godwin Bamigboye.

This message is for the main actors at the highest echelon of Sports Administration in Nigeria. Without mincing words, I am talking about the Chairman, National Sports Commission (NSC), Malam Shehu Dikko, Chairman , NSC, Hon. Bukola Olopade, Director General, NSC and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sport Development, Hon. Adeboye Anthony Adeyinka.

It is in the wisdom of the President, Commander In Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu GCFR that he changed the nomenclature of Sports Administration from Federal Ministry of Sports to National Sports Commission (NSC). Besides the change of name, I saw for the first time in the history of sports in Nigeria the appointment of a Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sport Development. Unless if my memory has failed me, I emphasize that this is the first time that *Grassroots Sport* is receiving special  attention.
It's good to also notice that the National Sports Commission in its total package of the Renewed Hope Initiative of Nigeria's Sports Economy (RHINSE) has also adequately made provisions for grassroots sport development.

It is cheering news for those who are genuinely involved in grassroots sport development in Nigeria. When I am talking about grassroots sport development, I mean those who are practically involved and not people who gate crash into a terrain that is alien to them.

It is now abundantly clear that grassroots sport will not be limited to only what the grassroots sport development department of the National Sports Commission can offer but the opportunities have been broadened with the enabling environment provided by the NSC and even the Presidency through the office of the SSA to the President on Grassroots Sport Development.

With this development, the grassroots sport practitioners who are indeed the vessels and blood that will help the heartbeat of sports to be sustained. They must therefore arise to their responsibilities by occupying their place in the desired grassroots sport development plan of government.

Luckily, the Nigerian Grassroots Sport Development Forum (NGSDF) is already alive and active and ready to drive government's grassroots sport development initiatives into reality. It is also good to mention that the Forum has approached the sports authorities for recognition through its request to the NSC to establish the Nigeria Federation of Grassroots Sport Development (NFGSD). Let it be. 

This is a clear message to Malam Shehu Dikko, Honourable Bukola Olopade and President's Aide, Hon. Adeboye Anthony Adeyinka for their consideration and action.

The time to establish the Nigeria Federation of Grassroots Sport Development (NFGSD) is now.

I am Spectator.