The chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko has called for the development of homegrown talents through developmental programs that will fasten their growth and be able to compete favourably with their counterparts across the world.
Dikko stated this during a meeting with Federation Presidents and secretaries which was held at the Media Centre of the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Tuesday.
According to Dikko, President Bola Tinubu has given the Commission the mandate to get the sports sector working so that it can contribute to the economy. He added that achievements in sports should not be seen from the prism of participation winning medals or go to international competitions but dby eveloping the athletes at home through developmental programs.
To achieve this however, Dikko said the Commission has concluded a plan to reopen its zonal, state and local government offices across the country to get to the grassroots where more talents can be discovered.
“The meeting is for us to be on the same platform to achieve success for our sports. Mr President wants us to get the sports sector working and contribute to the economy. Achievements in sports are not just about participation or winning medals or going to international competitions but it’s about developing the athletes at home through developmental programs.
“We have to create value for sports because it is a national asset and we need regulations to get things done in the right way. In that line, NSC is upscaling to be able to deliver what Mr President wants. Our zonal, state ans and local government offices will be reawakened to reach out across the country. We should be able to market our sports to get sponsors and get incentives for our athletes,” Dikko said.
NSC ready to deliver results through cutting-edge innovations – Olopade
Also, the Director General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade, said the meeting was summoned to keep the Federations abreast of strategic decisions for overall success while adding that the Commission will make sure it does all it takes to Nigerian sports to where it truly belongs to in the comity of nations.
He also said plans have been concluded to introduce Chief Operating Officers (COOs) to serve as marketing consultants to the Federations and generate funds to run them (the Federations). He added that the Elite Development and Podium Group which has replaced the Podium Committee will also work with the Federations to achieve maximum results.
“I’m very proud to be working with the chairman under strict directives from rules that have been given to us by the Presidency on what sports should be in this country and the direction we have to take to achieve results through cutting-edge innovations and strategic approach.
“We decided to call this meeting to keep abreast with the Federations on the strategic decisions we’ve taken as we seek your cooperation on what we need to do for all us to achieve success. The Commission under the leadership of Mallam Shehu Dikko is determined to deliver results upon results using very cutting-edge innovations and strategic approaches for us to get to Eldorado.
“Olumide Bamiduro, the Director of Finance has asked me to start by informing you that the election guidelines (for the Federations) are being worked upon. We are working on the guidelines of the elections. But I know authoritatively that all the things we decided and the chairman and I have agreed upon is to also brief the Federations to have a corporate sense of governance that will show Corporate Nigeria that we are serious-minded people.
“And one of the things we said we’ll be introducing is the Chief Operating Officers (COOs) to all the Federations that will act as marketing consultants to the Federations because every Federation has the capacity to raise money. I know, the chairman (Dikko) knows. I know because I used to work for a company that use to raise close to N10 billion a year into sports. There is no way constructive Federations should not be able to do that.
“But on a more serious note, we intend to introduce COOs to work with the Federations. I also have permission from the chairman to talk about what was called the Podium Committee which has now translated to Elite Development and Podium Group. That Group will be put together and will headed by an Executive Secretary who will work hand in hand with the Federations, and the Commission towards ensuring that starting from our next major event, our athletes will start to do well on the podium. One of the strategies will be for the consultants to work directly with the Podium Group and with the Federations.
“I also have the permission of the chairman to mention that Mr Bambo Akanni is being considered for that post and who’ll work across the board with selected athletes who will start to benefit from February training grants. Never again are we going to give training grants at the venue of an event, never,” Olopade said.
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