Sports
NSC Promises Inclusiveness In Sports Administration
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.
Sports
AFN COO, Dr Nneka Calls For Increased Investment In Grassroots Athletics, Sports Facilities
By Joel Ajayi
The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Chief Operating Officer, COO, Dr Nneka Ikem Anibeze has called on state governments and universities across the country to invest in athletics facilities and grassroots competitions to discover and nurture emerging talents.
Anibeze, who expressed delight at Nigeria’s achievement at the just concluded Youth Olympics where Nigeria won 3 Gold medal in athletic in Dakar, Senegal, said sustained investment in infrastructure, coaching and regular competitions would help the country build a strong pool of homegrown athletes capable of representing Nigeria successfully at international competitions.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Youth Olympic Games, she described Nigeria’s performance as encouraging and unprecedented, expressing satisfaction with the progress being recorded by young athletes.
The Senior Assistant Media & Publicity to the Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy Anibeze particularly commended the National Sports Commission (NSC) for creating opportunities for athletes to participate in international competitions, noting that exposure to major championships was essential for their development.
According to her, taking athletes to competitions, including the youth championships in Oregon, has helped expose young talents to international standards and provided valuable experience for those travelling outside Nigeria for the first time.
Anibeze noted that although some athletes were still developing, their performances demonstrated the benefits of regular international exposure and the need to sustain the momentum.
She said: “I feel very happy that this is happening in our time. It is unprecedented, and I am particularly delighted that we are beginning to see the results of these efforts.
“We must also appreciate the National Sports Commission for making it possible for our athletes to be exposed and given more competitions to participate in.”
The AFN COO stressed the need for Nigeria to look beyond athletes based abroad and deliberately develop the enormous athletic potential within the country.
She maintained that Nigeria had abundant homegrown talents who could compete at the highest level if provided with the right opportunities, facilities and support systems.
Anibeze explained that the federation was working towards securing sponsorship for more competitions, including all-comers meets, grassroots championships and school sports programmes.
Also She stated that plans were underway to organise more intermediate and grassroots competitions in Lagos and other parts of the country, particularly next year, to expand the talent discovery network.
According to her, such competitions would provide opportunities for young athletes to demonstrate their abilities and progress through the national athletics development structure.
She identified inadequate sporting facilities as one of the major challenges confronting athletics development in Nigeria, urging state governors to construct standard running tracks and mini-stadia in their respective states.
“If we have more tracks in our communities, people will not have to wait until they come to Abuja before they can train and compete.
“You can imagine that the girl who just performed was fine-tuned within two or three weeks. If she had access to better facilities and a good coach, the sky would be her limit,” she said.
Anibeze also urged universities to prioritise sports infrastructure, citing the University of Oregon in the United States as an example of how educational institutions could contribute to the development of world-class athletes.
She said Nigerian universities could build athletics tracks to support students with sporting potential, adding that stronger university sports programmes would also improve the country’s representation at the World University Games.
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