Adeboye Applauds Nationwide Participation as Naija5Fest Unveiling Secures Buy-In from All 36 States
By Rimawaglobalnews Sport Desk | Lagos
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports Development, Hon. Adeyinka Anthony Adeboye, has commended the overwhelming nationwide participation in the Naija5Fest youth football initiative, following the successful unveiling of the tournament with all 36 states of the federation confirming their involvement.
The unveiling press conference, held Thursday, February 19, at Adidas, Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, marked a significant milestone in the rollout of the national five-aside football competition designed to promote youth development, unity, and peace through grassroots sports.
Speaking shortly after the event, Adeboye described the full participation of states as a major endorsement of grassroots football and a demonstration of Nigerian youths’ readiness to embrace structured sporting opportunities.
According to him, the nationwide buy-in underscores the importance of grassroots sports as a foundation for national talent development.
“The presence and readiness of all 36 states is a powerful statement. It shows that grassroots football remains the heartbeat of sports development in Nigeria.
Naija5Fest represents inclusion, opportunity, and hope for our youths at the community level,” he said.
Adeboye explained that the five-aside football format offers greater accessibility, especially for youths in urban and semi-urban communities, while promoting discipline, teamwork, and creativity among participants.
He further noted that the initiative aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which emphasises youth empowerment, talent discovery, and the use of sports as a vehicle for national development and social cohesion.
“From the grassroots, we are building pathways that allow our youths to grow, express themselves positively, and contribute meaningfully to society.
This is how lasting sports development begins,” Adeboye added.
The presidential aide also praised the organisers and partners for successfully hosting the unveiling and establishing a clear roadmap for the competition’s nationwide implementation.
With the Lagos unveiling concluded, preparations are now expected to commence across states, where thousands of young footballers will participate, positioning Naija5Fest as one of Nigeria’s most inclusive and impactful grassroots football programmes in recent years.
