…By Concerned Stakeholders.

Come Thursday 15th December, 2022, the healthy and fast-growing future of the Olympic movement in Nigeria shall be further secured, sustained and fortified as we gather to re-elect Engr Habu Ahmed Gumel as president of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, NOC at the congress in Jalingo, the Taraba state capital.

Our collective resolve to re-elect Engr Gumel is anchored on the basis and principles of hardwork, dedication, devotion, focus, transparency and unassuming penchant for carrying everyone along in the nation’s Olympic movement in particular and growth and development of sports in the country in general.

We have taken time and space, in our first article published on the 11th of this month to register our pulse against detractors of Engr Habu Gumel ahead of thursday’s elective congress in Jalingo. In that article, we sought to know ‘who is afraid of Habu Gumel’? While that question is yet to be attended to by the faceless and cowardly detractors, perhaps it is time to let you know why they are constantly afraid of Engr Habu Gumel, hence their bitter and frustrated resolve to stop a moving train.

The reasons are not far-fetched as they are not unconnected to the administrator’s sterling and excellent achievements on the saddle. We definitely have not forgotten that the following landslide achievements in Nigeria Olympic movement are credited to Engr Habu Ahmed Gumel, the quintessential sports administrator:

1. NOC Secretariat building in Lagos.

Renovation of all structures, interior and exterior with quality landscaping, thereby making it befitting of an international organisation.

2. Equipping the various offices with state-of-the-art information technology facilities, replacement of all air-conditioning units and various other fixtures and fittings for smooth operation of work by staff and others alike.
3. Developing the Olympafrica centre in Amuwo Odofin Lagos, which is now ready for commissioning alongside the multi-purpose plateau for various sports as well as the indoor sports hall.
4. NOC land in Abuja.

Under Engr Habu Gumel, the NOC secured the partnerships of both the International Olympic Committee IOC and Association of Olympic Committees of Africa ANOCA in acquiring land for the building of the NOC Secretariat in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

5. ANOCA Secretariat building.

The Engr Habu Gumel-led NOC piloted the process that led to the delivery of ANOCA Secretariat building in Abuja, by engaging the Federal government of Nigeria, through the federal Ministry of youth and sports development.

6. Visit of IOC President to Nigeria.

Under the watch of Engr Habu Gumel, the NOC facilitated the historic visit of IOC President Thomas Bach to Nigeria for the commissioning of ANOCA Secretariat building in Abuja. On that occasion, the visitor promised to donate a spectator arena to NOC partner school, Aduvie International School, which has been completed, commissioned and delivered to the school.

7. Engr Gumel’s administration saw to the provision of Olympic scholarships worth US$414,240 to 19 Nigerian athletes which led all of them to qualifying for the Tokyo 2022 Olympic Games, with 2 of them clinching Silver and Bronze medals for Nigeria. The list includes Oluwatobilola Amusan, Ese Brume, Aruna Quadri amongst others.
   In addition, a Team Support Grant of US$75,000 to Basketball and Hockey which contributed to the qualification of both the national male and female basketball teams to Tokyo Olympic Games.
8. Engr Habu Gumel’s administration facilitated various local and international trainings for Nigerian coaches, Sports Medicine professionals, Military and Para-military officials, Sports Journalists as well as provided Olympic education curriculum for various Nigerian universities, Secondary and Primary Schools.
   This is in addition to the inauguration of the NOC-IOC
   Women Commission to compliment the roles of women in sports administration and Olympic movement.
9. Winter Olympic Games. Under Engr Gumel, Nigeria made her debut appearance at a Winter Olympic Games as she took part in Bobsleigh and Skeleton Events at the 2018 edition in Peongyang, South Korea.
   That was the first time for the African continent.
   In the 2022 edition in Beijing, China, Nigeria also took part in the Cross-country Skiing.

The above-mentioned are some of the milestones recorded by the NOC under the watch of the seasoned administrator whom we have chosen to re-elect as president, this Thursday, December 15, 2022 in Jalingo.

It is only natural, sensible, progressive and productive to support his mission and vision of elevating sports and the Olympic movement in Nigeria for our good and that of coming generation.

Engr Habu Ahmed Gumel has been and will always be responsive to the nation’s aspirations towards global sporting greatness.

Another four years as president of NOC is the way forward.
You can take that to the bank.

Share on Facebook

Tweet

Follow us

Share

Share

Share

Share

Share