By Olubunmi Omoogun
The Chairman, National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko has put his weight behind the newly inaugurated board members of the Elite Athletes Development and Podium Board headed by a veteran in the track and field events, Mr. Yusuf Ali.
The Chairman of the National Sports Commission alongside the Director General, National Sports Commission (NSC), Honourable Bukola Olopade acknowledged the immense contributions and efforts of Nigeria’s Athletes over the years especially in major competitions.
In a statement by the Director Information & Public Relations, National Sports Commission (NSC), Mrs Ajayi kehinde, Mallam Shehu Dikko, while speaking during the inauguration held at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Abuja recently said, globally sports has gone technical, hence the need for crucial measures to be able to meet up with global practices.
He further notes that, “Setting up the Elite Board is a crùcial step towards strengthening Nigeria’s Sports Development and a significant move in ensuring that our athletes achieve global success.”
Mallam Dikko who had headed the League Management Committee of the Nigerian football sector in the past explained that Members of the board are seasoned sports technocrats that were carefully selected to bring in their wealth of experience to drive sports and prepare Athletes to podium performance internationally.
“Their collective expertise will be instrumental in the development and success of our athletes, together we will create an environment that nurtures talents, promotes excellence and delivers results”.
As a Commission, he stated further that we are working hard to bring back all the key areas in sports especially in grassroots sports development through re-introduction of school sports and setting up of centers of excellence in various tertiary institutions where our young talents can be nortured.
The Chairman expressed his optimism in his leadership, to drive sports to an enviable level and with the line of budget put in place for the various tiers of the sector, the stage has now been set for the private sector to come in, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President to create a sports industry for the country.
On his part, the Director General of the Commission, Hon. Olubukola Olopade commended the initiative of forming the board. He said it is a significant step towards achieving the country’s vision of making Nigeria a force to reckon with in the world of sports.
The former Ogun State commissioner for Sports also said that, “With your support and guidance we believe that our athletes will have the best possible preparations, training and resources to achieve podium success and bring glory to the nation”.
He expressed confidence in the board and assured them of the full support of the commission, encouraging them to work closely with relevant stakeholders to ensure the success of their mandate.
While lending his voice to that of the Commission’s Chairman and Director General, the former Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Honourable Sunday Dare urged the athletics board to see the job as a service to the nation.
Dare commended the President for his commitment in seeing to the development of sports in the country while encouraging the sports leadership to take the podium performance seriously stressing that “Your achievements cannot be measured by beautiful stadium built, but by podium performance and gold medals.
CEO of the board, Mr Yusuf Ali, other members are Prof. Ken Anugweje, Bambo Akanni, Dr Emmanuel Igbinosa, Mallam Salisu Abubakar, Aku Aghazu, Tunde Adelakun, Prof. Sadiq Abdulahi, Mary Onyeali, Hauwa Kulu Akinyemi, Suleiman Isah Olumide Oyedeji and Bamiduro Olumide.
The Terms of Reference among other things includes Developing a robust and sustainable high performance system for podium success, identify and defining the broad range of roles and responsibilities of the entire high performance chain, construct an organogram for establishment of various roles, design and implement talent identification, development and progress as well as see to the selection preparation and participation of athletes for major international tournaments.
They are to be giving monthly annual report to the Commission
Responding on behalf of the inaugurated members, the Chief Executive of the Board Mr Yusuf Ali thanked the Commission for finding them worthy to serve the country in that capacity.
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