Nigeria’s ambition to host more continental and global
sporting events received a major boost on Friday, May 15, following the visit
of a delegation from the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa,
ANOCA, to the National Sports Commission headquarters in Abuja.
The delegation was led by ANOCA President, Mustapha
Berraf, who praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Republic of
Nigeria for continuously hosting the ANOCA headquarters in Abuja and supporting
sports development across the continent.
Speaking during the visit, Berraf expressed gratitude
to the Nigerian government for building and handing over the ANOCA headquarters
at no cost to the organisation.
“We want to express our sincere gratitude to the
government of Nigeria for building and handing over the ANOCA Headquarters at
no cost to us at all,” he said.
“With our headquarters here, you can take it that we
are Nigerians by extension. We are part of you and will not hesitate to enter
any sporting collaboration with you.”
Berraf also commended the Chairman of the National
Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, for what he described as a sports
revolution in Nigeria.
According to him, ANOCA has been closely monitoring
developments in Nigerian sports and is pleased with the reforms being
implemented.
“We have been following closely the sporting
developments in Nigeria and I must congratulate my friend, the NSC Chairman,
for all he is doing for sports in Nigeria and Africa as a whole,” Berraf said.
“What is going on here is trickling down to the entire
African continent and we can feel your impact.”
The ANOCA president confirmed that Nigeria will host
the next African Schools Sports in 2027 and revealed that more partnerships
with the country are being planned.
He said ANOCA is also considering Nigeria as host for
the next African Athletes Forum, adding that discussions had already been held
with the NSC chairman on the modalities.
“We are happy that together with Nigeria we will host
the African Schools Sports. We are also planning to host the next African
Athletes Forum in Nigeria,” he stated.
“You can bank on our support in bidding to host any
international sporting event.”
Berraf further praised the cordial relationship
between the Nigeria Olympic Committee, NOC, and the Federal Government,
describing it as a model for other African countries.
“We are very satisfied with the good rapport between
the NOC and the government. This is a model for other African countries to
emulate on how to work together for the development of sports in their
countries,” he added.
In his response, NSC Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko
conveyed President Tinubu’s goodwill message to the ANOCA delegation and
thanked Berraf for his consistent support for Nigeria’s sporting interests.
Dikko explained that the president would have loved to
personally receive the delegation and be decorated as Honorary Leader of ANOCA,
but was away in Rwanda.
“Mr. President would have been so glad to physically
welcome you and provide the opportunity for you to officially decorate him as
Honorary Leader of ANOCA as you desired, but he is away in Rwanda,” Dikko said.
“We will properly fix your next visit so that you can
meet with the President.”
The NSC chairman said sports in Nigeria had been reset
under President Tinubu’s administration, adding that the sector is now
contributing more than one percent to the country’s GDP every quarter.
He also disclosed that Nigeria participated in over 60
international competitions last year and won more than 373 medals across
different sports.
“This is unprecedented,” he said.
Dikko further revealed that President Tinubu had
approved a Sports Infrastructure Development Bond to raise funds for upgrading
sports facilities across the country.
According to him, the move is part of Nigeria’s plan
to strengthen its capacity to host more international tournaments.
He also highlighted the signing of the Anti-Doping Act
into law by President Tinubu, noting that the legislation had been pending for
over 20 years.
Dikko added that the president had also approved the
board and executives of the Nigeria Anti-Doping Agency.
“Meanwhile, we are not just doing sports. We want to
do it in a clean way,” he said.
“Mr. Berraf has always been in support of Nigeria. No
doubt, together, ANOCA and Nigeria can achieve so much in sports.”
Earlier, President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee,
Engr. Habu Gumel, who also serves as Treasurer-General of ANOCA, expressed the
association’s appreciation to the Nigerian government for its continued
support.
The ANOCA delegation included Mustapha Berraf, ANOCA
President and IOC member; Alfred Foloko, President of the Zambia Olympic
Committee and ANOCA Third Vice President; Ahmed Hashim, President of the Sudan
Olympic Committee and ANOCA Secretary General; Habu Ahmed Gumel, President of
the Nigeria Olympic Committee and ANOCA Treasurer General; Gaby Ahrens, Chair
of the Athletes Commission; Tegla Loroupe, Chair of the Refugee Athletes
Foundation; Paul Tergat, member of the ANOCA Athletes Commission and IOC member;
and Moncef Zemmouchi, adviser to the ANOCA President.
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