President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has made a pivotal move to advance the country’s sports sector by emphasizing its professional management through the National Sports Commission, NSC. This initiative aims to create a sustainable sports economy.
Speaking during the Virtual Annual General Meeting, AGM, of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, NOC, Malam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the NSC, highlighted this development.
Dikko explained that this new approach represents a transition from focusing solely on competitions to adopting strategies that emphasize grassroots sports development.
“This, he said, would help in identifying talents.
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“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,” he said.
He further noted that the revamped strategy includes allocating a dedicated budget, benefiting the NOC for the first time in years.
“With the inclusion, NOC will be in a position to execute the building of its permanent headquarters in Abuja.
“The Committee will also be in a position to support the preparations ahead of the 2028 Olympics, and support the grassroots sports programmes too,” Dikko said.
The NSC Chairman added that these planned measures would not only generate employment but also reposition sports as a vital aspect of Nigeria’s socio-economic framework, driving the growth of a vibrant sports industry.
On his part, Mustapha Ibaraf, President of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa, ANOCA, revealed that the organization had doubled its scholarship budget.
Represented at the virtual AGM by Dr. Jonathan Dyagas, Director of Finance, Ibaraf noted that more Nigerian and African athletes would receive scholarships in preparation for the Los Angeles 2028 Games (LA28).
The ANOCA president expressed satisfaction with the success of previous scholarship recipients, who earned spots in the Paris 2024 Games.
Earlier, Habu Gumel, commended members of the Olympic family for attending the AGM virtually.
“The AGM is a statutory obligation as prescribed in the constitution of the NOC,” he said.
He also praised the Executive Committee and the Board for maintaining the annual reunion tradition.
Gumel emphasized that the AGM provided an opportunity to evaluate the year’s activities, present audited financial accounts, and outline future plans and programs.
The upcoming years will focus on events such as the Islamic Solidarity Games in October 2025 and the Youth Olympic Games, scheduled for 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.
“The Youth Games are critical development events that will help to eliminate the recycling of old athletes for major Games due to a lack of challenges,” Gumel said.
According to him, the Games preceding the Olympics are structured to prepare nations for the 2028 Olympiad.
Gumel welcomed Shehu Dikko, the newly appointed Chairman of the NSC, and Dr Bukola Olopade, the Director General, for participating in the AGM.
He also extended his welcome to the presidents of Sports Direct Federations and other delegates who attended the meeting.
Crediblenewsng.com
