The Chairman National Sports Commission Alhaji Dikko Shehu has called on stakeholders in the sports sector to synergise with the Commission with the view to develop sports in line with the contemporary realities and objectives.
The Chairman made the call during the handing over to him by the former Minister of Sports Development senator John Owan Enoh held recently at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Abuja.
He stated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his wisdom has specifically approved that sports should stand as an entity in order to harness its economic potential to the country in line with the global practice.
“We are going to have a proper time to unveil the vision, objective and roadmap of what we are to do, to harness the potential of sports economy in Nigeria that is basically what the President wants us to do”.
Alhaji Dikko explained that it is time to leave the mindset about winning medals but to focus on sports as a tool for development in the country.
According to him, Nigeria is over 200m in population and if the potential of those that takes part in sports are harnessed should be able to dominate at least five percent of the global sports
He explained further that to achieve the aims and objectives of the National Sports Commission there must be proper reorganisation and restructuring and the foundation should be based on the three Pillars.
“Making sports a national assets to drive the economy, work on the legislation and regulations to have a proper framework that will drive the industry and to invest in the infrastructure that will help the industry grow”.
While thanking Mr. President for deeming him fit for such an exalted position, the Chairman assured of his commitment to ensure a complete turnaround of Sports in line with the policy thrust of the new Act that brought about the Commission.
He expressed optimism that with effective collaboration of stakeholders and good reportage of the media sports will be driving to the next level in the country.
Earlier in his handover speech, the outgoing minister of the defunct Federal Ministry of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his initiative of scrapping the sports ministry and replacing it with the National Sports Commission describing it as a positive milestone
“For Mr President it is a positive milestone for the singular decision by the President to scrap the sports ministry and get it replaced by the National Sports Commission is positive, I think in itself it attest to the leadership of the President”.
He observed the peculiar dynamic of Sports in nature and acknowledged that sports have no business being subjected to the bureaucratic and bottleneck of the civil service.
Senator Owan Enoh noted that the National Sports Industry Policy that talks about driving Sports as business justifies the President’s decision to separate sports to work as an entity for the economic growth of the country.
He applauded the appointment of Ahhaji Shehu Dikko as the right man for the job while suing for corporation from those in the sector to join hands with him to drive the industry.
In his opening remarks, the Director Sports Medicine; Dr Paul Onyeudo standing in for the outgoing Permanent Secretary assured the Chairman of the support and cooperation of the management and staff of the Commission to ensure his aims and aspirations for the sector are achieved.
Signed
Kehinde Ajayi (Mrs)
Director (Information and PR)
