The National Sports Commission (NSC) has announced a 21-man Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for the Africa School Games scheduled to hold in Abuja in 2027, marking a major step in Nigeria’s bid to strengthen education through school sports.
Nigeria was unanimously announced as the host of the 2027 edition of the Games during an extraordinary session of the ANOCA Executive Committee held on the sidelines. The hosting right is seen as a significant opportunity to advance school-based sports development, talent discovery, and youth engagement across the country’s educational system.
The NSC has been proactive in putting together a world class event, which prompted its leadership to announce the LOC. According to the Director General of the Commission, Honorable Bukola Olopade, “We are glad to host the Africa School Games. We were in Algeria for the last edition, and our athletes did well with spectacular podium performance.
“We set up this organizing committee in order to have a befitting event in Abuja. We witnessed what transpired in Algeria, and we want to put up a better show.”
He added that “The members of the committee are sports administrators with credible track records and were carefully selected. We believe they will give us the best event.”
The committee, which is chaired by Mr. Lekan Alabi with Abdulmumuni Shagaya as secretary, is expected to put in place a memorable event that aligns sports with educational development for school-aged competitors across the continent.
Full list of the Local Organizing Committee for the 2027 Africa School Games:
1. Lekan Abari – Chairman
2. Abdumumuni Shagaya – Secretary
3. Bar Musa Amadu – Deputy Chairman
4. Dr. Ibrahim Abdul – NOC
5. Sabina Chikere – NIS
6. Arc. Adamu Tanimu
7. Olubunmi Ola-Oluode – SF
8. Lydia Gbagi – School Sports Federation
9. Olukunle Olu-Young – School Sports Federation
10. Dr. Ameh Rachael Odachi – School Sports Federation
11. Victor Onagame
12. Hon. Malam Farouk Yarma
13. Chichi Nwoko
14. Ebidowie Oweife
15. Amaka Asiofu
16. Olalekan Alabi
17. Tunde Adeluola
18. Jude Anyadufu
19. Lanre Ogunjobi
20. Aisha Shuaibu
21. Kola-Daniel Adeyanju
Nigeria finished third in the 2025 Africa School Games in Algeria with 25 medals six gold, 10 silver and nine bronze behind host country Algeria and Egypt, who emerged first and second, respectively.
Educational analysts say Nigeria’s hosting of the Games in 2027 presents an opportunity to strengthen the link between sports and schooling, improve youth development programmes, and deepen student participation in competitive sports across the nation.