By Jude Opara, Abuja
The National Sports Commission (NSC) has charged heads of sports federations in the country to brace up for the challenges of putting in place a culture of excellence and performance in line with the aspiration of the administration to begin to do things differently.
NSC Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko gave the charge on Tuesday in Abuja while speaking at the one day meeting between the Commission and presidents and secretaries of the sports federations held at the MKO Abiola National Stadium.
He said the era of just seeking participation in international championships without a proper plan of how to justify the huge amounts of money being spent by government is gone, adding that going forward, participation in such events must be tied to reasonable assurance that there will be podium performance.
“We must begin to do things differently and that is one of the cardinal reasons behind this meeting. Everyone of us must brace up to contribute meaningfully to the development of the sports sector. This sector is very important to the present administration and that is why President Bola Tinubu created the NSC, and we must all work hard to justify that very gesture.
“It is also a common knowledge that most of the federations heads have been only showing interest in participating in international championships without also having anything on ground to support the growth of their sports locally, no league or training and we strongly believe that that will change going forward.”
Also speaking at the occasion, Director General of the NSC, Hon. Bukola Olapade revealed that the Commission has began putting in place guidelines for the conduct of elections into the boards of sports federations in the country.
Bukola further charged the federations to brace up to establish virile marketing departments which will source for funds for the running of the federations.
Responding on behalf of the federations heads, President of the Paralympics Association of Nigeria, Sunday Odebode thanked the duo of the NSC Chairman, Shehu Dikko and the DG, Bukola Olapade for calling the meeting.
Odebode also promised that the sports federations will corporate with the Commission to take sports to the next level.
Also in his remarks, President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NSC), Engr. Habu Gumel charged the federations to work hard to uplift the prospect of sports in the country.
He also stated that the next year will be full of activities which makes it more imperative that they should work hard to develop their athletes for the forthcoming international championships.
