NSC Chairman Hosts Kida, Says His Appointment Will ill Boost Ongoing Sports Reforms
Oru Leonard
National Sports Commission Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko on Tuesday played host to the recently appointed Chairman Board of NNPCL, Engr. Musa Kida. Deliberations revolved around mutually beneficial issues to both parties most importantly the advancement of sports.
While congratulating Engr. Kida, who is also the President of Nigeria Basketball Federation, on his appointment, Mallam Dikko seized the opportunity to highlight how his current position can rub off positively on the sports economy. The NSC Chairman applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR for once more fitting a round peg into a round hole.
Mallam Dikko said, “The President has always shown this knack for identifying the right people for every specific assignment. I have known Engr. Kida long enough to know that he will excel in this assignment. It once more highlights the quality of leadership we require in the Sports Federations. People with clear second address. Definitely this appointment is one that will help us in the ongoing reforms in the sector. We are talking more of the economic side of sports and Engr. Kida with his achievements in the corporate world and indeed sports, no doubt fits into this vision.”
In Dikko’s opinion, Kida’s appointment adds to the growing list of sports administrators who are deemed worthy of higher responsibilities in the society either in the private or public sectors.
“Honestly, this shows the quality of people that are administering sports in this country. People that are deemed worthy of holding key positions even outside sports. Consider the likes of Hon. Silas Agara, former Deputy Governor of Nasarawa and currently the DG National Directorate of Employment. He is the President of the Karate Federation of Nigeria and is doing so well.
“Simon Nkom, DG Nigeria Mining Cadestre Office is the President of Nigeria Hockey Federation. His giant strides in Hockey are also well documented. The former Country Director of PwC Uyi Akpata has made tremendous strides in his stint as Nigeria Cricket Federation President. He has taken Nigerian cricket to the level where we can now compete favourably against the East Africans.
“Similarly we can see the impact of somebody like Bisi Adebutu in advancing cycling, and most importantly we can see what the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of Economy Mr. Wale Edu is doing in Boxing and Marial Arts sports. Indeed it’s quite exciting to see the Minister of Finance/CME and the Chairman of NNPCL Board being core sports personalities” he said.
Mallam Dikko believes that Kida’s appointment will encourage more private sector involvement in the sports ecosystem.
“This appointment will put sports on the front burner. We all can see what he is doing with Nigerian basketball. This will surely rub off on our sports. The private sector will reckon with sports more now, a development that will help this sports economy vision and we cannot thank President Tinubu enough for this appointment”, he added.
(NSC Media, 8/4/25)
