Tinubu in tune with 21st Century Sports Development — Dare

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu places a high premium on sports, saying the Presidency will always give maximum support to those in charge of sports in the country.

Dare, a former Minister of Sports, stated this at the inauguration of the Elite Athletes Development and Podium Board (EADPB) by the chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko, at the Media Centre of Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.

Dare said the Tinubu’s administration is leveraging the power of sports to revolutionise the sector by increasing the budget by more than 200 per cent unlike what was obtained in the past when sports lack adequate funding.

He, however, promised that the Presidency would give the NSC all the necessary to succeed and bring honour to Nigeria. He commended the leadership of the Commission under Dikko and the Director General, Bukola Olopade, saying the impact of their leadership qualities was already there for everyone to see.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is in tune with 21st Century sports development and I can tell you that it is a complete sports revolution under him. The President wants to create a sporting culture where we can compete with any country in the world. Sports development in Nigeria is in safe hands under a President who knows what sports is all about.

“Mr President is leveraging the power of sports to revolutionise the sector by increasing the budget by more than 200 per cent unlike what was obtained in the past when sports lacked adequate funding. Sports development in Nigeria is in safe hands with Shehu Dikko, the NSC Chairman, and the Director General of the Commission, Bukola Olopade.

The impact of their leadership is already felt in the sporting industry. Your achievements will not be measured by the number of stadiums that you build but by the podium finish that you get. The net worth of the board (EADPB) members are massive and they are well connected and I believe that they will deliver,” Dare said.

Inaugurating the board which has former Nigerian athlete, Yusuf Ali, as chief executive officer (CEO), the NSC chairman charged members, without any delay, to swing into action to ensure a sustainable scientific system for Nigeria athletes’ discovery and welfare for better podium performances.

According to Dikko, the board has been established to solve all the lingering problems that are always associated with Nigerian athletes and their performances at major international competitions.

“For the first time in Nigerian sports, we have created an annual budget line for all our major international competitions such as the Olympics Games and the Commonwealth Games. The reason why we are calling this a Board, not a Committee, is because a Committee is temporary but we want to make this a structural process that will outlive all of us.

“As the act is being reviewed, this particular Board is among the new initiatives that will come under it that will be legally backed. This is also why we have a budget line to fund this particular Board. This funding might not be enough but it will show the direction the government is heading which will stimulate the private sector,” Dikko stated.

The DG, Bukola Olopade, said the Board has been given a clear mandate to identify the country’s priority sports and support others for enhanced performance.

He said, “Elite board has also been given the responsibilities to determine appropriate incentives for optimal athletes performance and also providing life-after-sports coaching for Elite Athletes.

“This Committee will also conduct feasibility studies for high performance and athletes development centres and also recommend appropriate professionals and remuneration structures.”

The members of the Board include Professor Ken Anugweje, member and Adviser; Olumide Bamiduro, Secretary; Dr Emmanuel Igbinosa, Salihu Abubakar, Aku Aghazu, Tunde Adelakun, Professor Sadiq Abdulahi and Mary Onyali.

Others are Hauwa Kulu Akinyemi, Sunday Odebode, Olalekan Alabi, Otunba Sylvester Ikuejamoye representing (NAPHER-SD), Olumide Oyedeji representing the Nigeria Olympics committee, Isa Suleiman, representing PCN, Mrs Opara Tecla, Adebimpe Adewale and Shagaya Abdulmumeen.

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