Leadership

The People Behind the Vision

Meet the team leading the National Sports Commission today, driving reform, investment and excellence across Nigerian sport, and discover the leaders who have shaped the sector since 1960.

Chairman

Shehu Dikko

Chairman, National Sports Commission

2024–present

Shehu Dikko leads the National Sports Commission, overseeing the development of sport across Nigeria from grassroots to elite level. A seasoned sports administrator, he brings extensive experience in football governance and league management to the Commission’s mission of making sport a driver of national unity, job creation and economic growth.

Director-General

Hon. Bukola Olopade

Director-General, National Sports Commission

2024–present

Hon. Bukola Olopade is the Director-General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), the Federal Government agency responsible for sports development in Nigeria. He was appointed in 2024, alongside Chairman Shehu Dikko, as part of the restructuring of sports administration that re-established the Commission.

Commission leadership

Our management team

The directors and heads of units who deliver the Commission’s work every day.

Ladan Almustapha
Director Finance & Accounts
Odii Ndubisi Barry
Director Human Resource Management
Kehinde Theresa Ajayi
Director Press
Opara Theecla Nkeiruka
Director National Sports Festival & Para Sports
Dr Ibrahim Abubakar Gyaran
Director Sports Medicine
Tochukwu Chinweze Ejelike
Director (Pharmacist) Sports Medicine

The historical record

Past leaders

Since 1960, Nigerian sport has been led by 35 ministers, commissioners and chairmen. Responsibility for sport has moved between ministries and the National Sports Commission many times, so each leader is listed with the office they held at the time.

35Office holders