Dikko declares NOC AGA open

Posted : 24 December 2024

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has thrown his weight behind early preparations for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics and other critical competitions.

This was revealed by the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, while declaring the virtual Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) Annual General Assembly (AGA) open.

Pointing out that the Commission had resolved to take a new approach, Dikko emphasized that a key step is to change the nation's pattern of preparing for the Olympics and other major international competitions.

His words: "In addition to other sporting activities, my Director-General and I have managed to create a deliberate budget line in the 2025 budget for the 2028 Olympics preparations.

"We want to make this a standard in sports budgeting, as preparations should not only be left until the year of the event but also be a continuous yearly process, with a focus on domestic sports development.

"Every year, we will ensure that there is funding in our budget lines for the Olympics preparation and other major competitions.

"There is also a budget line for the Commonwealth Games 2026 preparation.

"So, in addition to whatever we do with the private sector, every year there should be funding in the budget to support preparations for these key events.

"We are going to arrest this trend of late preparations for the Olympics. We thank the President for backing us in this plan, which clearly aligns with the renewed hope agenda and the shared prosperity vision of the President. It will also serve as a foundation for activating our domestic sports ecosystem."

The Commission has even made provisions in the budget for international competitions that the nation hasn’t yet qualified for in 2024 but may qualify for in the 2025 fiscal year.

"For the first time in the service-wide votes, there is provision for the funding of international competitions.

"These funds were put in the service-wide vote in case there are competitions for which we qualify in 2025, but as of today, we have not qualified. This is to reduce the need for intervention funds to support these competitions.

"There is a clear process for accessing these funds for those competitions without going through intervention funds," he added.

To ensure a regular supply of talent for these global events, there is a deliberate focus on grassroots sports development.

"There is a budget line created for talent identification and grassroots sports development. It's a deliberate move, and the President has even appointed an SSA on Grassroots Sports Development to show how serious he is about grassroots sports development," he said.

While appreciating the efforts of the Engr. Habu Gumel-led NOC for their contributions to the Olympic movement in Nigeria, the NSC chairman reiterated their resolve to do things differently.

He continued, "As you are all aware, the President has taken the bold step to ensure that sports is run strictly by professionals by creating the National Sports Commission.

"He has also made the bold decision to treat sports as a national asset.

"Therefore, sports will get all the support and special consideration to drive its growth and ensure success. We have resolved at the National Sports Commission to work with our colleagues at the NOC to achieve this mandate.

"Part of the mandate we have from the President is to see how we can work with all stakeholders to create a sports economy in Nigeria.

"The reason is that we have been focusing on all the competitions over the years, and the result is the same: we win some, we lose some, while forgetting to develop our internal sports industry.

"The focus now is to reset what we used to do before, from being more competition-driven to being development-driven.

"We must place more emphasis on development by creating the structures that will facilitate sports development.

"While we are not disregarding participation in competitions, we have to work very hard to ensure that we prepare and compete creditably in every competition we enter.

"So, we have come up with what we call the three Rs: First, we need to reset our thinking. Second, we need to refocus what we are doing and be deliberate about it. Thirdly, we must relaunch our sports industry to make it more positive and attractive to private investors.

"To promote these plans, sports have received unprecedented support from the President in the current 2025 budget proposals that have been presented to the National Assembly.

"There are deliberate projects proposed to jump-start this process."

He shared particularly heartwarming news for the NOC.

"The good news for the NOC is that there is a provision in the 2025 budget proposals to support the NOC in building a permanent secretariat in Abuja, in line with global best practices and the standards of host governments supporting the building of Olympic secretariats.

"The President has approved that. God willing, by the end of the 2025 fiscal year, the NOC may have a permanent headquarters in Abuja," he concluded.

On his part, the DG, Bukola Olopade, restated their resolve to change the narratives in Nigerian sports.

"I have no doubt that this initiative by the President to set up the National Sports Commission under the leadership of Mallam Shehu Dikko will go a long way in creating that synergy and symbiotic relationship between the NSC and critical stakeholders like the NOC," he said.

Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) President Mustapha Berraf, represented by ANOCA Finance Director Jonathan Dyagas, applauded President Tinubu for entrusting Nigerian sports to professionals.

"May I use this opportunity to congratulate the chairman and DG of the National Sports Commission for your well-deserved appointment.

"I am particularly glad that you are all involved in sports administration. I believe this should pilot Nigerian sports to a higher level. I wish you a successful tenure," he said.

He also brought good news to the Olympic movement in Nigeria.

"Your participation in the various Games has contributed to the overall success of the Games.

"I am delighted to inform you that ANOCA has doubled its athlete scholarship budget for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

"Fifteen top-ranking athletes in Olympic sports will be awarded scholarships by ANOCA.

"It is our belief that this will encourage our athletes and enable more African athletes to qualify for the 2028 Olympics.

"Be assured that ANOCA is available to provide every support that Nigeria will require to succeed at the 2028 Olympics.

"This is the time for Nigeria to start preparing immediately for the LA Olympics," he concluded.

Earlier, NOC President Gumel had listed the forthcoming events under the purview of the Committee as follows: Islamic Solidarity Games (2025), ANOCA Youth Games (2025/26), Youth Olympic Games (2025), Glasgow Commonwealth Games (2026), All African Games (2027), and Los Angeles Olympics (2028).

The highlight of the ceremony was a standing ovation for the NSC leadership, championed by Gumel.

He concluded, "We welcome the Sports Commission back at the helm of our sports, particularly the chairman, Shehu Dikko, and DG, Bukola Olopade.

"We give them a standing ovation for what they have done in such a short period of time.

"Though this is virtual, we will rise and give you a standing ovation to show that we are solidly behind you in all your plans.

"We sincerely thank the President for the support he is giving both of you. We have no doubt that you will succeed."

Dikko declares NOC AGA open

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