Tag: Shehu Dikko

National Sports Commission (NSC) Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, has departed to Banjul in The Gambia for the Interregional African Ministerial meeting.

The meeting is expected to be declared open by Gambian President His Excellency Adama Barrow today.

The theme of the meeting is Strengthening Sport Governance in Africa: Fostering Interregional Cooperation and Convergence for Sport Values, Ethics and Integrity.

With the aim of consolidating a vision and strengthening cooperation at the regional level, the event will bring together ministers of sports from the African continent, the Bureau of the ninth session of the Conference of Parties (COP9) to the International Convention against Doping in Sport, representatives of African interregional organizations, as well as experts and key stakeholders.

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The Minister of Youth and Sports of Gambia, Hon. Bakary Badjie, stated: “The meeting will represent a major opportunity to strengthen the governance of sport in Africa and its positioning in the global sport ecosystem, particularly in connection with the hosting of several major sporting events.”

Dikko is optimistic that the meeting will help to strengthen the Commission’s efforts to actualize the Renewed Hope Initiative For Nigerian Sports Economy (RHINSE).

He noted: “We are taking a route that had never been taken before. The task of evolving the sports economy is one that will need collaborations and that is why we have been doing wide consultations and engagements with stakeholders. This meeting will enable us to further cross-fertilize ideas, compile notes with colleagues from other jurisdictions and create further collaborations within the continent and beyond in support of our work in delivering our mandate.”

The National Sports Commission (NSC) is  committed to support the Nigeria School Sport Federation (NSSF) in its mission to discover and nurture grassroots talent.

This pledge was made by NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko during a visit from the NSSF leadership team led by President Olabisi Joseph in Abuja.

Dikko expressed his admiration for the NSSF’s initiatives and assured the federation of the Federal Government’s backing to help implement their programs nationwide. He emphasized the importance of school sports in developing a robust sports economy, as directed by the President.

“The development of school sports is crucial,” Dikko stated. “We have been tasked with creating a sports economy, and this begins at the grassroots level where talent is first identified. Without a strong foundation, elite sports development is unsustainable.”

He further added, “We plan to establish a comprehensive structure for school sports development in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth Development and Education. We will support talented students through scholarships for international studies and work closely with their parents. We are aligned in our goals and would appreciate a formal presentation of your programs to see how we can integrate them with our initiatives.”

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In her remarks, NSSF President Olabisi Joseph congratulated Dikko on his appointment and requested technical support from the NSC to ensure national sports federations actively scout for talent during their activities.

“On behalf of the NSSF, I extend our heartfelt congratulations on your appointment as Chairman of the NSC,” Joseph said. “Your dedication to sports development in Nigeria is a beacon of hope for our future athletes. The NSSF has been at the forefront of promoting grassroots sports through schools, recognizing that nurturing young talent is the foundation of any great sports nation.”

She continued, “We are here to explore collaboration opportunities between the NSC and NSSF. Our shared vision for youth empowerment and sports excellence requires a united effort. We are confident that, under your leadership, we can build a stronger, more dynamic sports ecosystem. We pledge our unwavering support and commitment to the NSC’s vision and objectives. Together, we can elevate Nigerian sports to new heights and create a lasting legacy for future generations.”

The National Sports Commission (NSC) will put in place policies that will place a premium on the welfare of athletes.

NSC Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko gave this assurance when a delegation of the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria (PFAN) paid him a courtesy visit.

Led by its President and former Nigeria  international, Tijani Babangida, the PFAN delegation included Secretary-General, Edema Fuludu, Clement Temile, Magaji Alhassan Boss and Mrs. Rotimi Michaels.

Dikko highlighted the Commission’s plans, in consonance with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s mandate, to improve the lot of the Nigerian athletes.

His words: “What I say to one, I say to all. You are here as representatives of Nigerian footballers, but I will speak to the needs of every Nigerian athlete across all sports. Their welfare will not be toyed with in this administration. We are already implementing strategies aligned with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to prioritize the welfare of athletes, past and present, and leverage sports as a tool for national unity, youth empowerment, and economic development.”

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Dikko  emphasized the importance of unity within the players’ union, noting that factional interests must not overshadow the shared goal of advocating for the welfare and advancement of Nigerian football players and indeed athletes in general.

“As far back as 2003, Tijani Babangida here is quite aware then, I had worked towards introducing a pension scheme for professional footballers and athletes in Nigeria, a vision that remains critical under the current NSC agenda. There should be collaboration and solidarity among all stakeholders because a united sports sector is essential for achieving sustainable growth and success, “he added.

He pointed out that the Commission remains committed to fostering partnerships, implementing policies, and driving initiatives that will enhance the welfare, performance, and global competitiveness of Nigerian athletes while advancing the Renewed Hope Agenda through sports.

Earlier, the PFAN delegation congratulated Mallam Dikko on his appointment and commended the President for entrusting the leadership of Nigerian sports to a seasoned stakeholder. They urged the Chairman to address critical issues, particularly the challenge of factionalism within the players’ union, and assured him of their unwavering support as he implements transformational reforms in Nigerian sports.

As part of the New Year celebrations, the Mallam Shehu Dikko-led National Sports Commission (NSC),  has extended goodwill to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Abuja.

The Durumi IDP Camp was the focal point of this outreach, aimed at fostering inclusivity and emphasizing the transformative power of sports in rebuilding lives and communities.

During the visit, residents were assured of the NSC’s commitment to grassroots development and increased participation in sports. Represented by his Technical Assistants, Lanre Ogunjobi and Barr. Uche George Egbe, Dikko highlighted how sports can significantly enhance physical and mental well-being.

 He stressed the importance of active engagement, stating that sports provide a platform for exercise, social interaction, and personal growth, all of which are vital for improving the quality of life in such communities.

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“If a talent with high development potential is identified anywhere in Nigeria, including IDP camps, the National Sports Commission will put mechanisms in place to provide the necessary developmental support to nurture and grow such talent. Everyone deserves an opportunity to shine, regardless of their circumstances,” he said.

As part of the initiative, the NSC donated sports kits, footballs,  and equipment to children in the camp to encourage participation in sporting activities. The outreach also included the distribution of food items, beverages, nutritional supplements, child care products, sanitary items, and other essentials to address the immediate needs of the camp’s residents.

The PRO of the Durumi IDP Camp,  Umar Gola, thanked the NSC delegation for their visit and emphasized the importance of sports for health and physical well-being. He urged the NSC Chairman to provide more sports facilities in the FCT, as the youth in their camp have limited access to such facilities.

Similarly, Madam Liyatu Ayuba, the Women’s Leader of the Durumi IDP Camp, expressed her happiness and gratitude to the NSC Chairman for the donations, saying he has brought smiles to their children’s faces.

The NSC remains steadfast in its mission to use sports as a tool for inclusion, empowerment, and community development, ensuring no one is left behind in the drive to rebuild and strengthen Nigerian sports from the grassroots.

Incidentally, Dikko is not a stranger to discovering talents at the IDPs since as  LMC Chairman, he spearheaded the discovery of Nura Mohammed from the IDP camp to feature for El Kanemi Warriors.

Mohammed was also on the fringes of the Home-based Super Eagles and played for Nigeria in the CHAN Championship in 2018 as a 15-year-old.

National Sports Commission (NSC) Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko  has enjoined  the Super  Eagles to go all the way and break the duck  by winning the forthcoming African Nations  Championship.

Finalist in 2018, the Super Eagles secured their ticket to the tournament  to be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda  between  February 1 and 28 after they  thrashed  the Black Galaxies of Ghana  3-1 in Uyo  last Saturday. 

Speaking on the team’s  qualification,  Dikko  said  the achievement  was in  tandem with the  vision of the commission  towards  domestic  competitions.  

“They haven’t qualified for the past two editions, it is so heart-warming that they have made it this time,” Dikko  said. “Now, we want them to do better than in 2018 when they lost in the final and thus we enjoin the NFF to ensure immediate camping and preparation of the boys whilst promising that the NSC would engage with the NFF to ensure that everything needed to ensure the success of the team will be done accordingly.”

Dikko  who  personally  donated  N10m to the team for defeating Ghana 3-1 in Uyo to secure the ticket, restated the commission’s commitment towards the sports economy with the domestic league as  one of the major vehicles to drive the process.

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“This qualification means a lot to us at the NSC,” Dikko continued. “You can see how excited my DG, Hon. Bukola Olapade and I was over the result.

“ We have set our goals and we know the exact routes to take to achieve those goals. For us to achieve our goals, the domestic League must be functional, so we must do all we can to support and enable this. 

“That is why we are so delighted that Nigeria’s flag will be hoisted at a competition that parades the best in the continent’s domestic leagues. 

“Pele once said that a country’s national team is as good as the league. So if our boys don’t make it to such tournaments, it doesn’t give us the confidence and belief needed in driving the process. It surely slows down what we are working on.”

He continued: “England hasn’t won any major trophy in football since 1966, but they have the most viable domestic football league in the world. England can play tournaments without being in the final for years, but their emphasis is on how the domestic clubs and the league are faring. 

“One club in England creates job for about 4,000 people and hundreds of millions in Gross Value Addition to the economy and indeed taxes and wealth creation with about 1.5m annual visitors attracted to the club facilities in tourism.

“You can see the ripple effect on their economy. That is the route we are taking now and on what benchmark we ought to be rating our domestic leagues.”

“We want to deemphasize on competitions and grow our sports domestically. That is why we have told the various Federations that if they come to us to approve or support  their trips abroad for tournaments, we will revert to how many tournaments they have had in that calendar year. We want to know how much they have done to develop that very sport domestically before engaging them.

“The league is our own product and we must be committed to its success. If we get the domestic league and competitions functioning, it will assist us realize the sports economy we are driving at.”

He charged the CHAN Eagles to take the form to their various clubs and make the league more exciting. 

“Those days we saw Sikiru Olatunbosun’s goal for MFM awarded CNN’s goal of the week. That is what we want from our players in the league. When the players excel, it rubs off on the quality of matches played and makes the league more marketable and drive the fans to the stadium. Let this success propel the boys to greater heights at club level. They are quite a talented bunch and buttresses what we have been saying over the years that talents abound in our league,” he added.

The chairman National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko has revealed that the commission has set in motion the process of  establishing  Nigeria’s first Sports Infrastructure  Development Management Board.

Dikko in a television chat titled Reshaping Democracy aired on NTA, last  Tuesday disclosed that the moves to create the new board is as a result of the efforts to revive  the decaying state of sports infrastructure  in Nigeria.

He added that the creation of the planned  board is targeted at refocusing  Nigerian sports from sole reliant on taking part in  competition only  to productivity levels.

The NSC boss explained that the plan is to reposition the sector to enable it contribute to the national GDP through the concession and licensing of sports facilities  to  boost revenue generation.

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He then disclosed that plans are underway to construct one new stadiums in the six  geographical zones, adding  the MKO stadium Abuja would be used to kick start the new  revenue generation model being introduced by the commission.

Dikko opine that the new plan is part of the strategies to develop and sustain sports infrastructure in Nigeria through investment drives.

He boasted that the task is an easy one, if the budget is available, adding that the commission has mapped out plans to engage potential partners from the public and private sector to attract  huge investments into sports infrastructure.

 National Sports Commission (NSC) Chairman, Shehu Dikko, said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has thrown his weight behind the country’s  early towards  Los Angeles 2028.

Dikko said as much  while declaring the  Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC Virtual ) Annual General Assembly open, adding  the commission had resolved to go down a route never used in the past by changing  the nation’s pattern of preparing for the Olympics and other major international competitions.

He explained  that   the NSC has already secured a ‘deliberate budget line in the 2025 budget for the Olympics 2028 preparations’.

“ Every year we will make sure that there is funding  in our budget lines for the Olympics preparation and other major competitions,” he said. “There is also a budget line for the Commonwealth Games 2026 preparation.

“So in addition to whatever we will do with the private sector, every year there should be funding in the budget to support preparations for these key events. We are going to arrest this trend of late preparations for the Olympics.

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“We thank Mr. President for backing us in this plan which clearly aligns with the renewed hope agenda and shared prosperity vision of Mr. President and indeed will be a foundation for activating our domestic sports echo system.

The Commission has even made provisions in the budget for international competitions that the nation hasn’t yet qualified for in 2024 but may qualify in the 2025 fiscal year.

While appreciating the Engr. Habu Gumel-led NOC for the ‘efforts put into the Olympics movement in Nigeria’,   Dikko reiterated their resolve to do things differently.

He continued: “As you are all aware, the president has taken the bold step to ensure that sport is run strictly by professionals by creating the National Sports Commission. He has also taken the bold decision to treat sports as a national asset. Therefore sports will get all the support and  special consideration to drive it needs growth and to succeed.”

“Therefore we have resolved at the National Sports Commission to work with our colleagues at the NOC to achieve this mandate. Part of the mandate we have from Mr. President is to see how we work with all the stakeholders to see how we create the sports economy in Nigeria.

“The reason is that we have been focusing on all the competitions all these years and the result is the same. We win some, we lose some, while forgetting to develop our internal sports industry.

“So the focus now is to reset  what we used to do before from being more competition-driven to being developmental-driven. So we have to place more emphasis on development by creating the structures that will facilitate sports development. While we are not going to disregard participation in the competitions, we have to work very hard to ensure we prepare and compete creditably in every competition we feature in.

“So we have come up with what we call the three Rs. We have to reset our thinking. Number two, we have to refocus what we are doing and be deliberate about it and thirdly, we have to re-launch our sports industry to make it more positive and more attractive to private investors. To promote these plans we have, sports have received unprecedented support by Mr. President in the current 2025 budget proposals that has been presented to the National Assembly. There are deliberate projects that have been proposed to enable us jumpstart this process.”

He has particularly heart-warming news for NOC.

“The good news for the NOC is that there is a provision in the 2025 budget proposals  to support NOC to build a permanent secretariat in Abuja in line to global best practices and standards of host Governments supporting the building of Olympic secretariat. Mr. President has approved that. God willing, by the end of the 2025 fiscal year, NOC might have a permanent headquarters in Abuja”, he concluded.

National Sports Commission Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko, has enthused  about a new era of ‘aggressive grassroots talent hunting’ to ensure that  new-found talents can be ‘supported to achieve their dreams and indeed to win laurels for the country without being poached by the opportunistic western world..

Dikko  said as much while hosting 14 year-old serial-winning gymnast Stephanie Ogechukwu Onusiriuka and her mother at his office in Abuja. 

Onusiriuka has been labelled Nigeria’s Simone Biles drawing marked global acclaim and the NSC has moved to tie down her future to the country. She trains at the Leeds Gymnastics and is a member of the UK Gymnastics Club. 

Having just finished her Senior Secondary Certificate Education (SSCE) examinations, her parents have been fielding calls from her UK club enquiring when she will be back. To this, Dikko jokingly asked her mother, “Why are they so keen on her returning? What is their problem? Do they want to poach her? This one is our own and we will do everything to keep her. We will invest in her so that we can authoritatively lay claim to her.”

Dikko continued: “She will be part of our elite plans and preparations. Let’s see what you have, then we will put heads together and do a new plan. Even if she is going abroad, she will be there on our own support and sponsorship. We will foot her bills. By 2026, she will be 16, so she will feature in the Commonwealth Games. In 2028, she can be a major medal prospect at the Olympics.

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“Whatever we do for the likes of Ese Brume, we will do for her. We will also get someone to adopt her in line with our Adopt-an-athlete program so the private sector will compliment whatever we do as Government. From our perspective, from now, she is part of our elite group.”

“Gymnastics is such a sport that is done at a very early age. Funny enough, you will say she is only 14, but this is the beginning of the peak years of gymnastics. These next four, five years are the years she is at her peak to get us on the podium. Biles is 27, but she is in the exit lounge. She won her first Olympics gold medal at 19. That is about the same age that we are targeting Stephanie in 2028. She will be 18 then, she should get us on the Olympics podium.

“We will get a desk officer for her and others to monitor her progress . We are going to follow this through all the way right from here, this very moment. Get us your details, let us find her something for Christmas,” he told her elated mother.

Onusiriuka, the golden girl of Nigerian gymnastics, won 1 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze at the National Sports Festival, Edo 2021 aged just 11. With 4 gold medals, she emerged the best gymnast at the National Youth Games, Delta 2023. 

She also has two gold medals from the African Club Championships in South Africa in 2019 and 2022.

A star-studded line-up of sports icons, ex-internationals and captains of industry are set to participate in the Shehu Dikko Novelty Match, schedule to hold tomorrow, December 4^th , at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja. 

The match will feature renowned names in Nigerian football, including Daniel Amokachi, Victor Ikpeba, Garba Lawal, Ahmed Musa, Samson Siasia, Victor Agali, and Rabiu Ali.

According to the coordinator, Chidi Okonkwo, the event is  aimed  to celebrate the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, whose unparalleled passion for sports has left an indelible mark on the industry. 

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Organizers of the Shehu Dikko Novelty Match (SDNM) emphasized that the event goes beyond celebration, serving as a platform to raise awareness within the sports community about the new direction of Nigerian sports. 

Dignitaries expected to grace the event include the NSC Chairman, the NSC Director General, Honourable Bukola Olopade, former Sporting Director of Enyimba International, Jude Anyadufu and amongst others.

The highly anticipated match will see Team Shehu Dikko face off against Team Nigeria, promising an exciting display of skills, as seen in times past and camaraderie while celebrating a figure who continues to champion sports development in Nigeria.

NSC boss bags NIQS Fellowship Award

Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, said at the weekend that the era of coming back from major international  championships  especially  the Olympics  without medals is over, adding the country’s apex sports  body  would focus more on  grassroots development  in order to unearth  more talents.

Despite parading  a contingent of 88 athletes, Team Nigeria   athletes  returned  home empty  handed  from the  Paris  2024 Summer Olympics  but Dikko  has pledged to work with the private sector as well as states governments and organisations in order  to revamp the sporting sector.

Speaking at the International Tennis Academy organized  Sapetro Futures Tournament which took place at the Ikoyi Club over the weekend, Dikko said Nigeria can become  a global sports’ power  with meticulous  development  of talents  across all sports.

 “My attending this event underlines the emphasis we are going to place on grassroots sports development going forward,” Dikko  who was named as  the NSC Chairman last month by President Bola Tinubu, said.  “We will work with the States to make sure that we can identify the best talent in all the major sports in age groups starting from age 10 and I am sure that working with all stake holders, Nigeria will never again return from an Olympic Games empty-handed.”

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Dikko  who stressed that his attending the Sapetro Futures final underlines  the importance he was going to place on grassroots development of all the major sports, presented a “thank you Plaque” to the MD of Sapretro Emeke Anagbogu who said the level of organization and standard of the competition was a sure sign that Nigeria has  lots of budding sports talent that will  do well at the world stage in the near future.

Meanwhile, Director General of the NSC, Bukola Olopade, has congratulated Dikko, on his conferment as a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (FNIQS).

The prestigious award was presented to Dikko during the Institute’s Annual General Meeting held yesterday  in Port Harcourt. 

The FNIQS fellowship represents the highest professional recognition for a quantity surveyor in Nigeria, signifying excellence and expertise in the field. 

Olopade commended   Dikko for his outstanding contributions to the profession, noting that his expertise will play a vital role in advancing sports infrastructure in Nigeria. 

“Beyond excellence in sports administration, Mallam Shehu Dikko has consistently demonstrated professional excellence as a quantity surveyor. His deep knowledge and experience will be invaluable in upgrading Nigeria’s sports infrastructure,” Olopade remarked. “Those who know him are very familiar with his brilliance and the extraordinary abilities he has as a professional. The nation is truly blessed to have someone like him who can contribute to different sectors of our nation.”