NSC Reaffirms Support for Baseball, Softball Development as Japanese Ambassador, NBSF Leadership Seek Deeper Partnership
Dikko gave the assurance in Abuja when he received a high-level delegation comprising the Ambassador of Japan to Nigeria and the President of the NBSF, Mr. Uche, on a courtesy visit to the Commission’s headquarters.
The meeting focused on expanding grassroots participation, deepening Nigeria-Japan bilateral sports cooperation and advancing the country’s pathway towards qualification for future Olympic Games.
Speaking during the engagement, the NBSF President expressed appreciation to the NSC leadership for its continued encouragement, while presenting the federation’s strategic Olympic qualification roadmap. He highlighted youth development and the identification of elite Players of Nigerian Origin (PONO) competing abroad as key components of the federation’s international strategy.
Mr. Uche also disclosed that the federation had commenced local production of baseball and softball gloves in Abuja, describing the initiative as part of efforts to strengthen domestic capacity and reduce dependence on imported sporting equipment.
He further highlighted the growing momentum behind the Nigerian University Baseball, Softball and Baseball5 Development and Expansion Programme, noting increased interest and participation among tertiary institutions across the country.
The Japanese Ambassador, in his remarks, reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to youth empowerment through sports and expressed his country’s readiness to deepen technical and institutional cooperation with Nigeria.
Responding, Dikko said the NSC was committed to creating a level playing field for all sporting disciplines under its mandate. He also cited the Commission’s newly constituted and fully operational Diaspora Sports Board, describing it as an important platform for identifying and integrating Nigerian sporting talents based abroad—an initiative that complements the NBSF’s PONO scouting programme.
The meeting ended with discussions on technical capacity building, exchange programmes and sustainable infrastructure development aimed at positioning baseball and softball for greater visibility and competitiveness in Nigeria and on the global stage.
