ANOCA President promises more collaborations with Nigeria in sports development

By Amaechi Agbo

Nigeria’s quest to host more global and continental sporting events got a boost on Friday May 15 with the visit of a delegation of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) led by its President Mustafa Berraf to the National Sports Commission Headquarters. This is even as the ANOCA President thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR and the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the continuous hosting of the ANOCA Headquarters in Abuja and the ongoing positive reforms in Nigerian sports.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Berraf, while applauding Nigeria for accepting to host the next African Schools Sports in 2027, revealed that more sporting collaborations with Nigeria were in the offing.

His words, “We want to express our sincere gratitude to the government of Nigeria for building and handing over the ANOCA Headquarters at no cost to us at all. With our Headquarters here, you can take it that we are Nigerians by extension. We are part of you and will not hesitate to enter any sporting collaboration with you.”

He applauded the National Sports Commission Chairman for superintending over a sporting revolution in Nigeria.

“We have been following closely the sporting developments in Nigeria and I must congratulate my friend, the NSC Chairman for all he is doing for sports in Nigeria and Africa as a whole. What is going on here is trickling down to the entire African continent and we can feel your impact”, he said.

Mr. Berraf reeled out more sporting collaborations with Nigeria.

He continued, “We are happy that together with Nigeria we will host the African Schools Sports. We are also planning to host the next African Athletes Forum in Nigeria and we have discussed the modalities with the Chairman who is a very good ally in all our plans.You can bank on our support in bidding to host any international sporting event.”

The ANOCA helmsman is elated with the cordial relationship between the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) and the Nigerian government.

“We are very satisfied with the good rapport between the NOC and the government. This is a model for other African countries to emulate on how to work together for the development of sports in their countries”, he concluded.

In his response, the National Sports Commission Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko, while extending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR’s goodwill message to the delegation, acknowledged Mr. Berraf’s unflinching support for the nation’s sporting interests.

He said, “Mr. President would have been so glad to physically welcome you and provide the opportunity for you to officially decorate him as Honorary Leader of ANOCA as you desired, but he is away in Rwanda. We will properly fix your next visit so that you can meet with the President.

“Under Mr. President, sports has been reset in Nigeria. We are no longer measured by mere performances, the sector now delivers over 1% of our GDP every quarter. Last year, we participated in over 60 international competitions and won over 373 medals across all sports. This is unprecedented.

“The President has just approved the Sports Infrastructure Development Bond to raise funds for the upgrading of sporting infrastructure across the county. This is to help our push to host as many international tournaments as possible. This collaboration with ANOCA no doubt will facilitate this.

“Meanwhile, we are not just doing sports. We want to do it in a clean way. This is why our dear President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR has signed the Antidoping Act that had been lying fallow for over twenty years into law. He has also set up the Board and Executives of Nigeria Antidoping Agency.

“Mr. Berraf has always been in support of Nigeria. No doubt, together, ANOCA and Nigeria can achieve so much together in sports. Once more we thank ANOCA for allowing us to host the 2027 Africa Schools Sports. On behalf of the President, we assure you of our support for ANOCA activities.”

Earlier the President of Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) Engr. Habu Gumel, who is also the Treasurer-General of ANOCA expressed ANOCA’s gratitude for all the support rendered by their hosts, the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The ANOCA delegation comprised Mustapha Berraf, ANOCA President, IOC Member, ANOC Vice-President; Alfred Foloko, President Zambia Olympic committee, Vice-Président African Judo Confederation, ANOCA 3rd VP; Ahmed Hashim, President Sudan Olympic Committee, ANOCA Secretary General; Habu Ahmed Gumel, President Nigeria Olympic Committee, ANOCA Treasurer General, Hon. IOC Member, ANOC Executive Council Member; Gaby Ahrens, Chair Athletes Commission; Tegla Loroupe, Chair Refugee Athletes Foundation; Paul Tergat, Member ANOCA Athletes Commission, IOC Member and Moncef Zemmouchi, Adviser to the President of ANOCA.