The Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko says President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has taken a significant step to elevate the nation’s sports sector by prioritising its professional management through the NSC to foster a sustainable sports economy.
Malam Dikko said this while addressing the Virtual Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) on December 23, 2024.
He noted the the government by this arrangement had initiated a shift from competition-focused, to development-driven strategies, with a commitment to grassroots sports development.
According to him, this would also aim at talent identification.
He said the key elements of this new approach would include dedicated budget provisions that also benefit Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) for the first time in many years.
“With the inclusion , the NOC would be in a position to execute the building of its permanent headquarters in Abuja.
“The Committee would be in a position to support the preparations ahead of the 2028 Olympics, and support for grassroots sports programmes too.
”With the Government pledging to enhance infrastructure, including a high-performance centre and upgraded facilities, stakeholders across the sports community are urged to collaborate in this transformative vision,” Dikko said.
He said that the planned initiatives would also aim at not only to creating jobs but also to reposition sports as a critical component of Nigeria’s socio-economic landscape, ensuring a robust and thriving sports industry.
The president of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa, Mustapha Ibaraf has announced that it has doubled it’s scholarship budget.
The ANOCA president was represented at the NOC AGM by the Director of Finance in the establishment, Dr Jonathan Dyagas.
According to the ANOCA president, this means that more Nigerian athletes and ineed other African athletes will receive scholarship ahead of the Los Angeles Games, LA28.
He noted that the the African Olympic body was happy that recipients of its previous scholarships made it to the Paris 2024 Games.
Earlier, Engr. Habu Ahmed Gumel hailed all members of the Olympic family for attending the Annual General Meeting even in virtual space .
”The AGM is a statutory Obligation as prescribed in the constitution of the NOC,”Gumel said.
He also commended the Executive Committee and the Board for sustaining the annual reunion of the family.
Gumel noted that the AGM presented opportunity to review the activities of the year and present an audited account of the NOC as well as unveil plans and programmes over the next couple of years.
The focus of the upcoming years would include the Islamic Solidarity Games in October 2025 and the Youth Olympic Games to be staged from October 31 to November 13, 2026 in Dakar, Senegal.
‘The Commonwealth Games will be held in Glasgow in 2026, the African Games in 2027 before the Olympic Games of Los Angeles in 2028.
According to Gumel the preceding Games are planned to ultimately hold before the Olympic Games in 2028 to help prepare nations for the ultimate Games of Olympiad.
”The Youth Games are critical development events that will help to eliminate the recycling old athletes for major Games due to a lack of challenges,” Gumel said.
He, particularly, welcomed on board, the Newly named Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Malam Shehu Diko and the Director-General of the NDC, Dr Bukola Olopade and for attending the AGM.
Gumel also welcomed the presidents of Sports direct federations and other delegates that attended the meeting. (vitalnewsngr.com).
