The Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, has said a diaspora recruitment framework is already in place to identify athletes interested in representing Nigeria, following Professor Pat Utomi’s call for efforts to secure Barcelona academy prospect Destiny Kosiso Ejiofor’s international future, STUDNG.com reports.

Utomi, a political economist, had expressed concern that Nigeria could lose the youngster, also known as Destiny Kosiso, to Spain.

“I recently discovered that this little boy is Nigerian. What efforts are we making to ensure that he doesn’t end up playing for Spain tomorrow?” he wrote.

“If we are not careful, we will continue to lose our brightest young talents to European countries.”

Dikko Outlines Diaspora Recruitment Plans

Responding to the appeal, Dikko said the commission had established a framework “to tap and give opportunity to our diaspora talents who are keen to represent Nigeria.”

According to him, more than 1,000 athletes across different ages and sports are already captured in the initiative.

His response did not specify whether that figure represented expressions of interest, registrations or confirmed commitments to compete for Nigeria.

Dikko also said a “39th state” status was being created for diaspora athletes at the forthcoming National Intermediate Sports Festival.

The arrangement, he explained, will allow interested athletes based abroad to participate under the commission’s supervision and sponsorship.

He pointed to the Invited Junior Athletes initiative, which he said had previously competed as a “37th state” at the National Sports Festival, as a precedent.

Dikko described that initiative as a success, saying it had helped identify secondary-school athletes who subsequently represented Nigeria at international competitions.

On Ejiofor, however, his response stopped short of confirming direct contact with the player or his family. Instead, he expressed his belief that the diaspora team was monitoring the situation and engaging through the appropriate channels.

X Users Question Nigeria’s Appeal

Utomi’s appeal drew criticism from some X users, who argued that Nigeria should prioritise sporting infrastructure, player welfare and reliable support systems rather than appeals to national identity.

“If he is your son, would you want him to play for Nigeria?” @DavymartinCE0 asked, while criticising the country’s football facilities and domestic league.

Another user, @Benjaminis007, wrote: “Sir! If you were in his shoes, would you consider Nigeria with such massive talent?”

Other respondents argued that the country supporting a player’s development should have an opportunity to benefit from that investment.

“So the country which discovered him and nurtured his talent, should not benefit from their efforts?” @Femogeoscience asked.

Similarly, @yomcee wrote: “Sir, the boy should represent the Country that discovered and also provided the needed facilities for his development.”

Another commenter, @wakeupafrica360, questioned whether Utomi would advise his own child to represent Nigeria rather than a country where the player would receive adequate support.

Those comments represents the views of the individual users quoted, not an established consensus about Ejiofor’s international future.

Praise For Ejiofor’s Potential

Other reactions focused on the youngster’s ability.

@ify_odogwu05 described the player wearing the No. 10 shirt as “a pure genius,” while @Cjdexy praised his finishing.

A report cited in the discussion attributed to football agent Pini Zahavi a claim that Ejiofor scored approximately 145 goals in 52 matches last season.

That figure was not independently substantiated in the supplied material.

Although some commenters suggested that Nigeria had already “lost” the Barcelona academy forward to Spain, the material provided does not establish that he has committed his international future to either country.

Dikko’s intervention outlines the commission’s broader approach to attracting willing diaspora athletes, but it does not confirm Ejiofor’s involvement in the programme or a decision about which country he will represent.