By Samuel Akpan in Abeokuta
The Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, lauded Ogun State’s remarkable hosting of the National Sports Festival, hailing it as a game changer for sports development in Nigeria.
During a World Media Chat held Sunday at the Local Organizing Committee Secretariat in Abeokuta, Dikko noted that the festival’s impressive organization and efficient handling of challenges have garnered nationwide attention.
“This festival is a major improvement from previous editions,” Dikko said.
“It is normal to experience hitches in events of this magnitude, but the prompt resolution of those issues shows great commitment. This edition will serve as a benchmark for future games.”
He called on other states aspiring to host future editions to emulate the Ogun example and improve on the standard set by the state.
Dikko said the Commission is working to transform sports into a key economic driver, in line with the President’s directive.
“We are building a sports economy—beyond the games, we are looking at job creation, the value chain, and revenue generation.
“Ogun’s example is now motivating other states to step forward and host,” he said.
When asked by a Persecondnews correspondent at the games about the development of a world-class athletics training site at Chappal Waddi in Taraba and Plateau States — a project intended to produce elite athletes — Dikko said:”We have investors who are willing to come there and turn the town into an athletics tourist site.”
“We are committed to building infrastructure for enhanced grassroots development.” The Commission has been meeting with governors to strategize on sporting infrastructural development.”
The commission is trying to replicate the Kenyan strategy. For instance, 73% of all Kenyan gold medals and a similar percentage of silver medals at major international long-distance competitions came from the Rift Valley region.
According to him, most Kenyan runners who dominate marathons worldwide train and live in the high-altitude Rift Valley. Iten, one of the towns that produces elite runners, sits nearly 8,000 feet above sea level in western Kenya.
Training at high altitudes contributes to running dominance that makes running at lower elevation child’s play.
Iten has become known internationally as the place where long-distance champions are made, with runners from around the world going there to train before major races.
The NSC Chairman also highlighted the President’s passion for grassroots sports, praising the inclusion of the Invited Junior Athletes (IJA) initiative.
“The IJA initiative excites us because it represents the future. These young talents, selected from youth games, are being nurtured to become tomorrow’s champions,” he said.
Dikko disclosed that the NSC is developing a national calendar that will set November and December as the fixed months for hosting the festival and is working on a sustainable strategy to attract private sector sponsorship.
He also announced a partnership with the Ministry of Education to revive school sports and a plan to establish “universities of excellence” in each geopolitical zone to support students with athletic potential.
On governance, Dikko vowed that only credible individuals committed to sports development would be allowed to lead sports federations.
“We will not tolerate non-performing presidents who contribute little to nothing,” he said.
He also applauded the federal government for approving the Olympic and Commonwealth Games preparation budget, first of its kind in Nigeria’s sporting history.
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