Nigeria has secured renewed backing from the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) for the successful delivery of the 2nd African School Games, Abuja 2027, following a comprehensive presentation at the Extraordinary Session of the ANOCA General Assembly in Nagoya, Japan.

The Nigerian delegation used the high-level Olympic gathering to demonstrate the progress recorded since Nigeria was awarded the hosting rights, with Chairman of the Abuja 2027 Local Organising Committee (LOC), Mr Lekan Abari, presenting an update on the country’s preparations.

Abari’s presentation, introduced by Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) President, Engr. Habu Gumel, provided ANOCA members with an overview of Nigeria’s preparations, including venue rehabilitation, organisational structures, funding and resource mobilisation, approved sports, timelines and operational planning.

The Nagoya engagement is the latest major checkpoint in Nigeria’s preparations for the continental youth multi-sport event after ANOCA had earlier commended the commitment of the Federal Government, the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Abuja 2027 LOC.  

Abari acknowledged the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the leadership of the National Sports Commission under Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko and Director General Hon. Bukola Olopade, while assuring the Assembly that the LOC remains committed to meeting ANOCA’s requirements within the agreed timelines.

The presentation covered the formal hosting agreement and signing ceremony, ANOCA’s initial inspection of facilities, progress recorded since the inspection, the functionality of the LOC, venue rehabilitation and completion plans, funding arrangements and preparations for the Games.

Although the LOC acknowledged that significant work remains ahead of Abuja 2027, the Nigerian delegation told the Assembly that preparations were progressing across the major areas required for the successful hosting of the competition.

The presentation attracted questions from delegates, particularly on the safety and security of participants, the functionality of the LOC Secretariat, the availability of technical manuals and preparations for the first Chef de Mission Meeting scheduled for January 12–20, 2027.

Abari assured the delegates that the LOC was working across the different operational areas and would maintain regular engagement with ANOCA to address outstanding requirements. A formal request for the relevant technical manuals has also been forwarded to the LOC.

The Nigerian presentation received applause from the Assembly, while several delegates subsequently approached members of the Nigerian delegation to commend the depth of the presentation and the level of work already undertaken towards the Games.

Abuja 2027 was one of several major African Games projects reviewed during the Nagoya session, alongside the African Beach Games in Riaba, Equatorial Guinea, the African Youth Games in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and the African Games in Cairo, Egypt.

A significant outcome for Nigeria was ANOCA’s reaffirmation of its commitment to Abuja 2027, including a pledge to provide financial support for ongoing preparations in line with previous assurances. The LOC is expected to engage ANOCA on the modalities and timing for the release of the funds.

The renewed backing comes after Nigeria formally secured the hosting agreement for the 2027 African School Games earlier this year. The agreement officially confirmed Abuja as host city, with the NSC and ANOCA outlining the event as an important platform for grassroots sports development and youth talent identification.  

The Abuja project has also benefited from previous technical engagements between ANOCA’s African School Games Coordination Commission and the LOC, including inspections and reviews of proposed competition and non-competition venues in the Nigerian capital.  

For Nigeria, the Nagoya engagement represents a shift into a more demanding phase of the project. With the hosting rights already secured and continental confidence reaffirmed, attention now turns to translating plans into completed facilities, effective logistics and an operational structure capable of delivering the Games to the required standards.

The Abuja 2027 LOC is therefore expected to intensify its engagements with ANOCA and relevant Nigerian institutions as the countdown continues, with the success of the project ultimately dependent on the timely execution of the commitments presented to the continental Olympic body.