The National Sports Commission (NSC) has officially inaugurated the Elite Athletes and Podium Board, marking a significant step toward achieving sustainable podium performances for Nigerian athletes.
The inauguration, which took place under the leadership of NSC Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, aims to establish a scientific and structured system for athlete discovery, development, and welfare.
Persecondnews reports that the board is led by former Nigerian international Yusuf Ali, who serves as the Chief Executive Officer.
During the inauguration, Dikko stated the board’s purpose, saying, “This is why, for the first time in Nigerian sports, we have created an annual budget line for all our major international competitions such as the Olympic Games and the Commonwealth Games.”
He further explained that the board’s formation represents a long-term commitment to addressing persistent challenges faced by Nigerian athletes.
“We want to make this a structural process that will outlive all of us,” Dikko said, adding that the initiative would eventually be legally backed under the ongoing review of the NSC Act.
The Director General of the NSC, Bukola Olopade, highlighted the board’s responsibilities, which include identifying priority sports for Nigeria, determining appropriate incentives for optimal athlete performance, and providing post-career coaching for elite athletes.
The Special Senior Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, urged the board to live up to expectations.
Dare, a former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, described the board as a critical step in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s structural reforms in sports.
The board, which comprises a diverse group of professionals, includes Prof. Ken Anugweje, Olumide Bamiduro, Dr. Emmanuel Igbinosa, Salihu Abubakar, Aku Aghazu, Tunde Adelakun, Prof. Sadiq Abdulahi, and Mary Onyali, among others.
In his acceptance speech, Ali made a commitment to stakeholders that the board would deliver on its objectives, thanking the National Sports Commission (NSC) leadership for putting their trust in him and his team to get the job done.
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