SPORTS DEVELOPMENT: FGN Urges End to Bureaucracy
Oru Leonard
The Federal Government of Nigeria has mandated the National Sports Commission to operate efficiently and effectively, avoiding bureaucracy that can hinder sports development.
In a meeting with the Nigeria Olympic Committee, the Chairman, of the National Sports Commission Mallam Shehu Dikko, in his office at the Moshood Abiola International Stadium, Abuja, confirmed that any bureaucracy will take Sports backwards. Part of the mandate is reviewing purposes, providing the requisite, provisions that will help boost Sports and one of such is funding. Which is the foundation, he said. Having a Sports development fund, which is fixed under the National Sports Commission, will provide a direct source of funding that is a direct means of creating wealth and if it’s taken off, the way it is envisaged, Sports would be one of the most juicy organisations that would have enough revenues to adequately sponsor programmes and sustain them.
The commission is working towards reviewing its purposes and providing requisite provisions to boost sports development, with funding being a top priority. Mallam Dikko emphasized that having a sports development fund will provide a direct source of funding, creating wealth and enabling the commission to sponsor programs and sustain them.
In response to the Nigeria Olympic Committee’s 11-point agenda, the commission is engaging with the Budget Office to review the ACT and allocate 3-5% of the country’s budget to sports, as is the best practice globally.
The Nigeria Olympic Committee President, Engr. Habu Ahmed Gumel, congratulated the Chairman of the National Sports Commission and welcomed the newly appointed Director General. He emphasized the NOC’s commitment to delivering value to stakeholders, particularly in capacity building, sports medicine, and promoting gender balance.
Speaking earlier on, the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) President, Engr. Habu Ahmed Gumel congratulated the Chairman of, the National Sports Commission Mallam Shehu Dikko and welcomed the newly appointed Director General Chief Bukola Olawale Olapade to the Sports desk of the Nation. He also intimated the Chairman of the NOC executives who are elected into power every four years and that their Tenure started in 2022.
On our part, the Nigeria Olympic Committee as partners with the National Sports Commission, is passionately committed to the delivery of values to our stakeholders especially in the area of capacity building to support the National Federation’s administrative and technical structures.
Furthermore, he said the NOC Knowledge- empowerment programmes also extend to Sports Medicine, paramilitary sports and tertiary institutions. As part of the Olympic Movement’s legacies, the NOC engages in the promotion of gender balance through women-in-sports initiatives and goals of Sports for all to support national health and recreation.
Key recommendations from the NOC include releasing funds for Olympic Games preparations, revamping and funding zonal offices, and building new sports infrastructure at federal, state, and local government levels.
In the discussions also, Mrs Olabisi Joseph, integrated with the zonal offices of the Sports Commission to be revamped and funded to encourage the State and Local Government to embark on grassroots Sports Development to help all national levels have a succession plan for ageing top elite athletes
Mr. Solomon Ogba, the first Vice President of NOC, in his statement also noted that there was a need for massive rehabilitation or building of new sports infrastructure both at the Federal, State and Local Government levels as a solid foundation for Sports Development.
Source: NSC Media
