AFN hails Dikko’s appointment as National Sports Commission Chairman

Pius Ayinor

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has showered praises on President Bola Tinubu for re-introducing the National Sports Commission and appointing Shehu Dikko in an all-purpose vehicle to drive the development of sports in the country.

The President of the AFN, Chief Tonobok Okowa, in a statement made available to journalists on Thursday, thanked President Tinubu for taking this bold, decisive, and forward-looking decision to bring back the NSC whose history of success in the development of sports dates back to the pre-independent years.

“My President, the sporting fraternity in Nigeria and the rest of the world will forever remember this bold statement you have made with the National Sports Commission for good, and Nigerian sport will surely flourish in leaps and bounds in the years to come,” Okowa said.

The AFN boss sincerely believes that Tinubu, will provide the much-needed financial support and create a conducive environment for the Commission to operate effectively.

“The President means well for the youths of this great country that explains why he brought back the NSC and appointed a sports technocrat to add some fillips to sports. Youths are the backbone of any economy and President Tinubu is doing just that with these moves,” the Delta State-born Vice President of Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) noted.

Okowa who is also the President of the Confederation of African Athletics Zone II, also hailed the President’s choice of Mallam Shehu Dikko as the man to navigate Nigeria Sports into global reckoning and make it the toast of all.

“Shehu Dikko a consummate Sports administrator’s appointment is a round peg in a round hole and it’s befitting. Dikko will bring some fresh thinking and drive into sports development in Nigeria. His vast knowledge and experience will help put Nigeria’s sports back on track,” the former Chairman of Delta State Sports Commission stated.

“Your wealth of knowledge, and vast experience in administration coupled with your marketing expertise will go a long way in driving sport all-purpose vehicle for nation building.

“On behalf of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria and the athletics family in the country and beyond, I heartily rejoice with the astute administrator who is also a marketing expert, Mallam Shehu Dikko on this appointment and I believe you have the knowledge, understanding, and experience to make the National Sports Commission work and sport in Nigeria blossom.”

Dikko served as chairman of various committees in the NFF, including marketing and sponsorship. He was a member of the CAF Inter-Clubs Committee. And still a member of the FIFA Football Stakeholders Committee.

On Wednesday, President Tinubu named Dikko, the former Chairman of the Nigeria Professional Football League as Chairman of the re-introduced NSC, after the scrapping of the Federal Ministry of Sports Development.

“We will get it right with the National Sports Commission under the stewardship of Mallam Shehu Dikko, and we at the AFN and CAA Zone II are ready and willing to support this laudable initiative aimed at shaping a sporting landscape.”

The National Sports Commission, previously dissolved by the Muhammadu Buhari government in 2015, will now oversee sports development in Nigeria.

Established in 1971 was first dissolved in 1995 and re-introduced in 2007. The Commission has a rich history, dating back to 1910 with the creation of the Empire Day competition.