Sports

NSC Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko declares 6th OSOM Games Open in a Colorful Ceremony

Published

2 months ago

April 24, 2025

Joel Ajayi

Chairman of the National Sports Commission, NSC, Mallam Shehu Dikko has reassured Nigerian athletes of regular internal competitions as a key priority of the Renewed Hope Initiative for Nigerian Sports Economy, RHINSE, mandate of the Commission.

The Chairman stated this when he declared open the 6th edition of the One Service One medal ( OSOM) Games inside the mainbowl of the MKO stadium in Abuja on Thursday.

The Chairman emphasized the importance of organising such Games which amongst other things serves as a veritable tool to foster unity and commaraderie among the security agencies.

” We recognise the role the security agencies played in the rich sporting history of our country by producing some of the country’s finest athletes who have done the country proud at various international competitions”.

” And at the Sports Commission we acknowledge that the security agencies still has the potential to produce top class athletes for the country which is part of the reasons we are committed like never before to hosting this year’s OSOM Games”.

” Under the Renewed Hope Initiative for Nigeria Sports Economy( RHINSE ), mandate given to us by Mr President, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, the Sports Commission is committed to ensuring that there is regular competitions to discover new talents and to keep our athletes actively busy”.

” The OSOM Games is more than a competition. It is a building block in our broader vision to reform the Nigerian Sports Sector. As I said earlier , under the RHINSE initiative, we are committed to turning Sports from a field of consumption into one of Production. That means placing greater focus on local competitions like these”.

” I look forward to an exciting six days of competition and our eyes will be on some of the outstanding athletes that will distinguish themselves at the Games as we are currently building a sustainable pool of talents that will be ready to do the country proud at international competitions”.

The Chairman also used the opportunity to assure the athletes that the Commission will soon embark on infrastructural revamping of the country’s sporting facilities and the Abuja National stadium will soon undergo a total face-lift especially with the Pitch.

The Chairman maintained that infrastructural development and Athlete’s growth go hand in hand and the Sports Commission is fully committed to making this work.

The OSOM Games brings together all Service Agencies, both Military and Para Military, to compete under a fair and competitive atmosphere and will run from the 24-30th of April 2025.

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Sports

Leadership Boost: Dr. Nneka Anibeze Takes Helm as AFN COO

Published

17 hours ago

June 12, 2025

The Gleamer

By Joel Ajayi

In a major boost for Nigerian athletics, Dr. Nneka Anibeze, a seasoned sports journalist and respected figure in the Nigerian sports community, has been appointed as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN).

The appointment was officially announced on Thursday in Abuja, shortly after the conclusion of the AFN elections.

AFN President Chief Tonobok Okowa stated that the appointment aligns with the National Sports Commission’s broader objective to promote inclusivity and inject fresh, dynamic leadership into the federation’s administrative framework. Alongside Dr. Anibeze’s appointment, Kola Oredipe was named Auditor, with other professionals also appointed into key legal advisory roles.

Dr. Anibeze brings to the role a wealth of experience, leadership, and a proven track record of contributing to the growth of sports in Nigeria. Her appointment is widely seen as a strategic move to strengthen AFN’s operations, both domestically and on the international stage.

Stakeholders across the sports sector have hailed the appointment, expressing optimism that Dr. Anibeze’s knowledge, professionalism, and vision will help reposition Nigerian athletics for long-term success.

In her remarks following the announcement, Dr. Anibeze took a moment to appreciate the critical role of the Nigerian media in advancing sports development.

Speaking shortly after the election of the Nigeria Association for Women in Sports (NAWIS) representative into the AFN board, she described the media as “the most important stakeholder” in the sporting ecosystem.

> “The future of Nigerian sports is very bright,” she stated. “The media is the greatest stakeholder in sports. Without the media, it’s like blinking in the dark.”

Drawing from her extensive experience in sports journalism, Dr. Anibeze recalled covering iconic international competitions, including the 1995 World Athletics Championships in Gothenburg, where she reported on Nigerian legends like Fatima Yusuf, Mary Onyali, and Innocent Egbunike.

“Back then, sports coverage was occasional. Today, sports is big business—and the media drives that business. Without television rights, sponsorship deals, and live coverage, sports would not attract the massive investments it does today,” she explained.“The media makes sports visible, marketable, and profitable.”

Dr. Anibeze urged journalists and media organizations to continue championing the growth of Nigerian sports, stressing their responsibility in shaping narratives and driving positive change.

“Despite the challenges, I believe in the future of sports in Nigeria. With people committed to doing the right thing—and with the media actively involved—we will get there,” she concluded.

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