Joel Ajayi National Sports Commission Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko has promised to involve all stakeholders in the quest to actualize the sports economy and grassroots sports development mandates of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR.
Speaking when a delegation of Association of Former Female Athletes of Nigeria (AFFAN) paid him a working visit, Mallam Dikko reiterated his position that no crucial stakeholder will be left behind in the pursuit of the Commission’s vision. 

His words, “We have the sports economy mandate from the President. He has also instructed us to take sports development down to the grassroots hence he appointed a senior special assistant on Grassroots Sports Development that works with us here in the Commission. These mandates can only be actualized with the full involvement of all stakeholders. 

“That is why we don’t close our doors to such visits. In such meetings, we field suggestions that guide the steps we take. No crucial stakeholder will be left behind. All we need from you is to come to us just as you people have done. It is not necessary to run to the media when you can talk to us. We are open to further engagements to cross-fertilize ideas.”

He promised to revisit the earlier administration’s promise to include the group in the board of the Sports Federations. 

“It is good to hear that you had already gotten the approval from the former sports minister to include your association in the boards of the Sports Federations. So we have to see how we can activate it to have you included in the Boards”, he said.

He noted the immense contributions of women athletes in the nation’s past sporting exploits. 
“Women had always been our collaborators in winning medals and laurels in sports. We had agreed with the Olympians that ex-internationals have to be part of our teams to major Games. This also goes to this group. We have no doubt that women need some representation in the teams because of their peculiar nature and we will see to that”, he noted.

The NSC helmsman pointed out plans to strengthen the zonal offices of the Commission. 
“The zones will be like the mini Sports Commissions. We are going to have Federal Sports Commissioners in zones. We will task them on bringing talents from the zones. There is already provision for zonal offices in our budget. The grassroots development of sports will hinge on schools sports which all of you are products of. 

“We are setting up the centers of excellence down to the LGAs, states and zones. You can be rest assured that we are seriously on the task of ensuring that the conveyor belt of talents is sustained so that we can have more of you in the younger generation”, he concluded.

The delegation was led by the association’s president Dr. Toyin Aluko.

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