Sports Can Drive Over 50% of Nigeria’s Economy, FCC Chair Omidiran Says

The Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Hon. Hulayat Motunrayo Omidiran, has said Nigeria's sports sector has the potential to contribute more than 50 per cent to the nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) if properly developed.

Speaking during a courtesy visit by the National Executive Committee of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) in Abuja, Omidiran described sports as a strategic tool for economic growth, job creation, and national unity. She urged policymakers to move beyond viewing sports solely as entertainment and instead harness its vast economic potential.

Omidiran, a former Executive Board Member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and member of FIFA's Women's Football Committee, said the current administration is committed to unlocking the benefits of a vibrant sporting ecosystem.

She also formally accepted her nomination as the first-ever National Matron of SWAN, pledging to actively support the association's programmes. “I will not be a silent matron. When I am with you, you will know I am with you,” she assured members, adding that both she and the FCC would stand firmly behind SWAN's initiatives.

SWAN President Isaiah Benjamin commended Omidiran's leadership at the FCC and her longstanding contributions to sports administration, particularly in advancing women's sports and youth development.

He described her appointment as National Matron as fitting and expressed confidence that it would strengthen collaboration between both institutions. Omidiran is expected to be formally decorated during SWAN's National Triennial Congress in August 2026, where sports journalists across the country will also elect new national officers.