The African Union (AU) has formally awarded Nigeria the hosting rights for the 6th Specialized Technical Committee (STC) Meeting of the African Union Sports Council (AUSC), scheduled to hold in 2027.
The decision was announced at the Meeting of Ministers of the African Union Sports Council, held on Friday in Bujumbura, Burundi.
The STC is one of the African Union’s highest policy-making platforms in the sports, youth, and culture sectors, bringing together Ministers of Sports, Youth, and Culture from all AU Member States to deliberate on continental policies, strategic frameworks, and implementation pathways that shape Africa’s sports development, youth empowerment, and cultural integration agenda.
In approving Nigeria’s hosting rights, the Council of Ministers acknowledged the country’s renewed leadership role in African sports, its proven capacity to deliver complex international events, and its growing influence in youth development and cultural advancement initiatives across the continent.
The endorsement followed a comprehensive presentation by the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko, which highlighted Nigeria’s recent successes in hosting major sporting events, ongoing institutional reforms within the sports ecosystem, and the country’s demonstrated readiness to host high-level continental engagements.
In 2027, Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, Directors-General, and technical experts in sports, youth, and culture from across Africa will converge in Nigeria for what is expected to be a highly technical, policy-driven, and outcome-oriented meeting, with far-reaching implications for the future of sports and cultural development on the continent.
The hosting of the STC Meeting complements Nigeria’s broader continental engagement, including preparations to host the second edition of the Africa School Games in 2027, a flagship initiative aimed at nurturing Africa’s next generation of sporting talent.
Nigeria is also advancing its bid to host the 2031 African Games, building on a strong and competitive submission that reflects the country’s long-term vision for sports development and infrastructure growth.
Nigeria’s selection to host the 6th AUSC STC Meeting underscores its reinvigorated commitment to institutional excellence, continental cooperation, and youth-driven development, in line with the National Sports Commission’s reform agenda and Africa’s shared development aspirations.
Under the leadership of the Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, and the Director-General, Hon. Bukola Olopade, the National Sports Commission remains committed to positioning Nigeria as a hub for continental sports diplomacy, youth development, and culture
