Sports

NSC Chairman Thumbs Olopade On Succesful Conduct of Sports Federation Elections

Published

4 days ago

October 28, 2025

Joel Ajayi

The Chairman of the National Sports Commission, NSC, Mallam Shehu Dikko has praised the Director General of the Commission Hon. Bukola Olopade, following the successful and smooth conduct of the National Sports federation elections held over the weekend in Abuja.

The National Sports Commission conducted what will go down as one of the most transparent and peaceful federation elections across 18 Sports, resulting in new Presidents and Board members for the next four years.

Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the National Sports Commission, while congratulating the newly elected members, showered special praise on the DG for his dogged, firm and charistmatic role in the smooth conduct of the polls.

” This is one of the most peaceful federation elections that has been conducted in this country in recent times and the DG played a significant role for this to be achieved as he stood firm to uphold integrity, transparency and justice”.

” The Federation elections have always been a banana peel over the years but the DG made sure this time around it was a total different story with the cooperation of all stakeholders”.

” I must also praise the Electoral committee chaired by Dr Simon Ebhonjaiye, as they worked round the clock with the DG for this to be achieved “, he added.

Meanwhile the entire election process has continued to received the accolades of stakeholder across the Sports family.

Minister of Finance Wale Edun, who is the new elected President of the Nigeria boxing Federation, NBBF, has commended the commission and assured of a new dawn for boxing in the country.

” The leadership of the NSC led by both the chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko the DG Hon Nikola Olopade have shown professional leadership in the way these elections have been conducted”.

The New President of the Nigeria Tennis Federation Victor Ochei said ” I am more than excited and proud that the Nigeria’s sports is in the hands of astute administrators like Hon Bukola Olopade and I am commited to complement the commission’s efforts to deliver the mandate of building a sustainable sports economy through tennis”.

According to Tayo Popoola, the newly Elected President of the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation, ” the Sports Commission must be commended for chatting a new focus of competency across the various Sports federations and the quality of the recent federation elections has raised the bar and sets a new standard in the sports ecosystem”.

The NSC conducted elections into 18 Sports federations that include Taekwondo, Hockey, Deaf Sports, Tennis, Scrabble, Aquatics, Shooting, Golf, Handball,Rugby. Others include Fives ,Chess, Wrestling, , Squash, Traditional Sports, Wushu-Kungfu, Boxing and Karate.

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Sports

Dr. Andiir Solomon Atoo Honored with SWAN Diamond Jubilee Award for Outstanding Contributions to Sports

Published

4 hours ago

November 1, 2025

The Gleamer

Cyril Ogar

Benue-born sports administrator and philanthropist, Dr. Andiir Solomon Atoo, has expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) for recognizing his contribution to sports development in Benue State and Nigeria at large.

Dr. Atoo, who serves as President of Flight Sports Nigeria Limited and Founder of Flight Football Club, Gboko, received the honour during the association’s Diamond Jubilee Celebration in Abuja.

Speaking after receiving the prestigious award, Dr. Atoo described the recognition as a “special motivation and encouragement” to continue contributing to sports growth across the country.

“I’m very happy and honoured. This award means a lot to me because it serves as motivation and encouragement. It’s something very special and not something I take lightly,” he said.

A respected sports administrator, CEO, and humanitarian, Dr. Atoo has built a sterling reputation for his commitment to nurturing young talents and promoting grassroots sports in Benue State.

Through Flight Sports Nigeria Limited, which oversees a range of sporting disciplines including football, volleyball, basketball, lawn tennis, and para sports, he has created opportunities for young athletes to develop their potential and pursue professional careers.

Under his leadership, Flight Football Club Gboko has become a platform for discovering and grooming promising footballers who have gone on to make their mark both locally and internationally. Beyond football, his investment in volleyball, lawn tennis, para sports, and basketball has revitalized interest and participation in these disciplines within Benue and beyond.

Reflecting on his journey, Dr. Atoo noted that his involvement in sports began purely out of passion but has now grown into a lifelong mission.

“It all started as a passion, but over time, it has become part of me — a culture,” he stated. “This recognition only drives me to do more for the progress of our youth and the development of sports in Benue State and Nigeria.”

He also extended his appreciation to sports journalists in the state and across Nigeria for their continuous support and constructive criticism, noting that their work plays a vital role in shaping sports administration and inspiring excellence.
Looking ahead, Dr. Atoo reaffirmed his dedication to empowering young athletes and improving sports structures in the region.

> “Going forward, we’re going to achieve great things in Benue. My message to sports lovers, administrators, and players is simple — stay dedicated, keep believing, and together we can make sports a major unifying force in our state and beyond,” he concluded.

The recognition by SWAN adds to Dr. Atoo’s growing list of honours as a sports leader, CEO, and philanthropist whose initiatives continue to drive youth empowerment and sports development across multiple disciplines in Benue State and Nigeria.

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