Sports Sector Adds 1.2% to GDP, Creates 140,000 Jobs — NSC Chair

Story: Written by springnewsng February 20,2026
Nigeria’s sports industry contributed 1.2 per cent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product in the third quarter of 2025, generating about 140,000 jobs across the value chain, according to Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC).
Dikko disclosed this on Thursday while briefing journalists after meeting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. He also urged football fans to remain patient as the country awaits a decision from FIFA on Nigeria’s prospects for the 2026 World Cup.
Reviewing the Commission’s 2025 performance and outlook for 2026, Dikko said sports development is now assessed beyond medals, with emphasis on economic impact and employment generation.
“We no longer judge sports solely by trophies. We now measure success by GDP contribution and jobs created across the ecosystem,” he said, adding that the President expressed satisfaction with the sector’s progress and ongoing reforms