Sports
NSC Pushes for Excellence as Sports Officers’ Undergo Training
By Joel Ajayi
The National Sports Commission (NSC) has urged sports officers across the country to leverage their expertise in driving innovation and implementing modern techniques to accelerate the growth and development of Nigeria’s sports sector.
NSC Chairman, Malam Shehu Dikko, gave the charge on Tuesday in Abuja during a two-day workshop themed “Striving for Excellence.” The workshop was designed to empower NSC personnel—key drivers of the Commission’s new agenda—with the tools, knowledge, and mindset needed to enhance productivity and service delivery across the sports ecosystem.
The training, with the theme “Reset, Refocus, and Relaunch of the Nigerian Sports Sector for Greater Performance,” aims to create a more vibrant and economically viable sports industry in the country.
Describing sports officers as the engine room of the Commission, Dikko emphasized their pivotal role in policy implementation and sectoral transformation.
“We are counting on sports officers because they are the ones translating the Commission’s policies and vision into action,” he stated.
“This gathering gives us the opportunity to engage, communicate our goals, and help them understand the direction we’re taking. Once they own the vision, they can effectively drive and implement it.”
Dikko noted that the workshop is just the beginning of a continuous development initiative.
“This won’t be a one-off training. Our plan is to institutionalize this process, ensuring that the vision and focus become part of the Commission’s culture—sustainable regardless of who is in charge.
“That way, future leaders will inherit a competent, capable workforce ready to carry the torch.”
In his goodwill message, Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) President, Habu Gumel, commended the program, calling it a valuable initiative for the capacity development of sports officers.
“This training will enhance your knowledge and performance, ultimately benefiting the entire sector.”
Also speaking, the Director of the Federation of Elite Athletes Department at the NSC, Olumide Bamiduro, noted that the initiative is part of the Commission’s broader vision to develop a thriving sports economy.
“It is essential to train our sports officers with up-to-date knowledge and global best practices, particularly at the elite level,” he said. “This is a critical step toward unlocking the full potential of Nigeria’s sports economy.”
He encouraged participants to take full advantage of the workshop to advance sports development at all levels.
The Workshop continues on Wednesday with papers presentation in the morning on ‘Change Management in National Sports Federations, and Remodeling Sports Governance and Development in Nigeria’ by Barr. Musa Ahmadu and HRH Alhassan Saleh Yakmut respectively.
Lunch Break will witness session 7 and 8 with papers presentation by Dem Samuel Ogbondeminu and Mr. Olusoji Adeniran on “Keeping National Federation Compliant in the Anti-Doping Chain and Mastering Organizational Skills for Work Proficiency and Performance” respectively.
Sports
A Triumphant Close to the 22nd National Sports Festival
…As organisers promise another spectacle at closing ceremony on Thursday
Joel Ajayi
After 11 days of a true showcase of sporting competition in multiple Sports by some of the country’s top and even promising athletes, the curtain will finally be drawn on what many have described as one of the best ever organised National Sports festivals, when the closing ceremony is held on Thursday at the MKO Sports Arena in Abeokuta.
Whilst the quality of the Games’ opening ceremony is still getting tongues wagging, the entire sporting family and beyond is now anxiously looking forward to what the closing ceremony will look like.
The last 11 days have showcased Ogun state as a true Sporting hub with potential to even do more, with the quality of the facilities built for the games and the enthusiasm of the people who made the various venues their second home in the last few days.
A big testament to this was the history-making crowd that attended the male football final between Ogun state and Kwara State, which the host won by 4-1.
The MKO stadium was filled to full capacity while the crowd outside watching from the big screen reminds one of how much Sports is truly the soul of our togetherness as a country.
From the Alake Sports centre in Ijeja and the Baptist boys high school, to the Obafemi Awolowo square and the Remo stadium both in Ikenne, to the NYSC orientation camp in Shagamu, and the Ilisan town hall in Ilisan, the festival never lacked spectatorship throughout the games.
The Games actually lived up to the pre-tournament hype as both the National Sports Commission, NSC and the Ogun state Government pulled out every administrative capacity to ensure both athletes, officials and the media have an unforgettable experience.
The Gateway Games 2024 had been full of exciting drama and intrigues amongst the states and athletes which led to different new records being set and some old records being shattered.
The festival has also produced for the country some new exciting young talents especially with the shocking performance of the 38th state, the Invited Junior Athletes ( IJA), where they ended up winning some surprised medals to justify the Commission’s establishment of the initiative.
As the Closing ceremony holds on Thursday, the leadership of the National Sports commission, NSC, expresses its profound gratitude to the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Ogun State Government for making sure millions of Nigerian youths see a renewed brighter future in the country through the National Sports Festival.
The NSC Chairman Mallam Shehu Dilko said ” our overwhelming gratitude goes to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,GCFR, for his personal commitment to the development of Nigerian Sports by giving us every support financially and otherwise for the success of this festival”.
” And the Ogun state Governor, Dapo Abiodun also deserves a huge praise for the feat we all recorded with these games. I can’t thank him enough and posterity will surely remember him for good “.
The NSC Director General who is also the Chairman of the Main organising committee of the games, Hon Bukola Olopade also extended his gratitude to all the technocrats behind the scene that are responsible for the successful organisation of the games.
” From all the members of the Main organising committee to the various sub committees, to members of the local organising committees and all our technical officials in the various sports to the media and our athletes, every success that everyone is talking about concerning these Games belongs to you all”.
” Yes it was not a perfect festival because we acknowledged we had also some challenges but let me assure everyone that some of the challenges are already being worked upon ahead of the next Games holding in Enugu state next year”, he concluded.
The Closing ceremony is expected to bring together top Government functionaries to captain of industries while there will also be the rich cultural display of the state as Ogun state will officially pass the barton of hosting to Enugu state for the 23rd edition of the Games come September 2026.
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