National Sports Commission Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko
has promised to involve all stakeholders in the quest to actualize the sports
economy and grassroots sports development mandates of President Bola Ahmed
Tinubu GCFR.
Speaking when a delegation of Association of Former
Female Athletes of Nigeria (AFFAN) paid him a working visit, Mallam Dikko
reiterated his position that no crucial stakeholder will be left behind in the
pursuit of the Commission’s vision.
His words, “We have the sports economy mandate from
the President. He has also instructed us to take sports development down to the
grassroots hence he appointed a senior special assistant on Grassroots Sports
Development that works with us here in the Commission. These mandates can only
be actualized with the full involvement of all stakeholders.
“That is why we don’t close our doors to such visits.
In such meetings, we field suggestions that guide the steps we take. No crucial
stakeholder will be left behind. All we need from you is to come to us just as
you people have done. It is not necessary to run to the media when you can talk
to us. We are open to further engagements to cross-fertilize ideas.”
He promised to revisit the earlier administration’s
promise to include the group in the board of the Sports Federations.
“It is good to hear that you had already gotten the
approval from the former sports minister to include your association in the
boards of the Sports Federations. So we have to see how we can activate it to
have you included in the Boards”, he said.
He noted the immense contributions of women athletes
in the nation’s past sporting exploits.
“Women had always been our collaborators in winning
medals and laurels in sports. We had agreed with the Olympians that
ex-internationals have to be part of our teams to major Games. This also goes
to this group. We have no doubt that women need some representation in the
teams because of their peculiar nature and we will see to that”, he noted.
The NSC helmsman pointed out plans to strengthen the
zonal offices of the Commission.
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