The National Sports Commission (NSC) has taken a major step towards the structured development of netball in Nigeria with the appointment of seasoned sports administrator Dr Oluwatoyin Aluko as President of the Nigeria Netball Federation (NNF).

The appointment was announced on Wednesday by the Director General of the NSC, Honourable Bukola Olopade, who said the move aligns with efforts to establish a sustainable framework for the growth and competitiveness of netball in the country.

According to Olopade, netball ranks among the fastest-growing sports globally, and Nigeria possesses significant untapped potential, particularly within its diaspora.

“As part of Mr President’s mandate to build a sustainable sports economy, we are creating a well-organised system where Nigerians, both at home and abroad, can be proud to represent the country in their specialised sports,” Olopade said.

He revealed that research conducted by the Commission shows that over 30 Nigerians are currently playing netball professionally in some of the top leagues across Europe and South Africa, underlining the country’s potential to become competitive on the international stage.

“This means we can have a very formidable national netball team that can add to our podium strength, provided we have a well-organised federation,” he added. “Dr Aluko is a former netball player who understands the sport inside out. This is a significant step, and in the coming days, we will announce the full board of the federation.”

Dr Aluko, the newly appointed NNF President, is a former national netball player and currently serves as the President of the Association of Former Female Athletes of Nigeria (AFFAN). She is widely regarded as an accomplished athlete, coach, and sports administrator, bringing over 45 years of experience to the role.

Her appointment is expected to usher in a new era for netball in Nigeria, with a focus on governance, talent identification, diaspora engagement, and long-term development of the sport at both grassroots and elite levels.