The organizers of the Sports Africa Investment Summit (SAIS), in collaboration with the National Sports Commission (NSC), have disclosed that their commitment to a world-class event that maximizes public sector participation, fosters strategic collaborations, and showcases Africa’s vast sports investment opportunities necessitated the postponement of the event to Q1 2025.

They added that the postponement of the event, earlier scheduled to hold from November 19–20, 2024, is also in recognition of the current onboarding exercise at the National Sports Commission, a co-host of the summit, and the organizational/leadership transition following the winding up of the defunct Ministry of Sports.

The NSC leadership intends to fully mobilize resources and provide the strategic input necessary to align the summit with its renewed vision for sports development in Nigeria and position both host parties to deliver a befitting investment summit experience to African and global partners.

Speaking on the development, Mallam Shehu Dikko stated:

"The National Sports Commission is committed to shaping a sustainable and inclusive sports ecosystem in Nigeria. This postponement reflects our desire to ensure robust public sector engagement, align the summit with our renewed vision, and be on a surer footing to host Africa. The additional time will enable us to strategically mobilize resources, foster collaborations, and demonstrate leadership in the sports investment space."

The organizers and stakeholders remain steadfast in their vision of igniting a new era of growth in Africa’s sports sector. This additional planning period will allow for the development of a comprehensive and impactful summit program that emphasizes investment opportunities in sports infrastructure, talent development, and the sports industrialization agenda.

Ms. Nkechi Obi, CEO of Sport Nigeria, emphasized the significance of this decision:

"SAIS has always been about creating the most impactful platform for discussions and collaborations in Africa’s sports sector. This postponement enables us to tap into the new leadership and energy at the NSC, ensuring a more inclusive and successful contribution from the private sector—a key stakeholder in the development of the sports industry."

The Sports Africa Investment Summit remains focused on catalyzing transformative investments that will propel the continent’s sports industry to new heights. From modern stadiums and world-class training facilities to locally manufactured sports goods, the summit seeks to drive sustainable economic growth through sports.

The exact new summit date in the first quarter of 2025 will be announced in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, organizers are committed to engaging with stakeholders and refining the summit agenda to deliver a world-class experience.

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