By Tahir Ibrahim Tahir Talban Bauchi.
Nigeria’s sports industry is going through the most dynamic change it has had in the last 40 years, with the return of the National Sports Commission, doing away with the bureaucracy and attendant bottlenecks that the sports ministry has brought to bear on its management. Mr. President’s recent re-structuring of some ministries which saw to the exit of some ministers including that of sports, was very much welcome by sports enthusiasts, journalists, marketers and sponsors. Our athletes have faced so much ridicule recently as our preparations for international competitions have been abysmal and unprofessional. From lack of registration for the right competitions, to lack of equipments, to poor performances in events we used to do quite well in, Nigeria’s sports image was at its lowest. Mr. President’s move in scrapping the sports ministry was the best for our sporting industry. It was also done at the right time.
Sports management in the country will now be under the management of the National Sports Commission. This Commission is being chaired by Alh. Shehu Dikko, as announced by Mr. President. Shehu Dikko is a Nigerian football administrator who is the Chairman of the League Management Company which is responsible for the management of the Nigerian Professional Football League. He was previously a consultant for the Nigeria House of Representatives Sports Committee. He went into football administration in Nigeria in 2004, as a FIFA Goal project manager, organising several club tours between Portsmouth FC and Manchester United, alongside Kano Pillars. While he was a consultant for the government, he was part of the drafting of the National Sports Commission Bill in the National Assembly. In 2012, he was appointed Secretary of Super Eagles Bonus Row and Code of Conduct Drafting. In 2014, he ran for the office of the NFF President but withdrew before the start of the elections. In December of 2014, he was appointed Chairman of the League Management Company by the Nigeria Football Federation. In April of 2019, he was reappointed as Chairman of the League Management Company. Shehu Dikko is a member of CAF Inter Clubs Committee, member of FIFA Stakeholders Forum, and a member of the World League Forum.
Pamodzi Sports Marketing, organisers of the historic Gold Label Okpekpe International 10km road race, have described Shehu Dikko’s appointment as the best in the history of sports administration in Nigeria since the late Dr. Isaac Akioye’s era, in the mid 70s to the early 80s, as reported by Thisday. Mike Itemuagbor, one of the few marketing gurus Nigeria has ever seen, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Pamodzi Sports Marketing, believes President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has not only scored very high marks with the return of the National Sports Commission, he has also been excellent with the appointment of Dikko as Chairman. “President Tinubu may have made the boldest move in recent years to revive the sports sector and make it play it’s role as a development tool”, Mr. Mike Itemuagbor said. He added that, “an ideal sports administrator balances leadership, strategy, and empathy. He’s skilled in managing teams, understanding sports policies, and fostering a positive environment for athletes and staff. He must have the adaptability to navigate the ever changing sports landscape and Dikko fits the bill”. Itemuagbor believes that Dikko has been specially prepared for this role. Mr. Fred Edoreh, another sports enthusiast says, “from my association with him, I would say an emphatic yes, Dikko can deliver on the mandate of the National Sports Commission. He is well schooled in the technicalities, administration, management, and marketing of sports. He has the requisite corporate background, relationship with brands, and wide and deep relations in international sports politics. He is also a stickler for athletes welfare”.
Mr. Dikko’s appointment has been widely celebrated, especially by sports professionals, enthusiasts and journalists. It is strongly believed that our sports development has lacked the experience and professionalism that Dikko embodies. He has decades of experience, knows the system very well, and boasts of the international connect, that can help improve our sports development. The world over, sports is financed by private entities and not by government. It is our hope that Dikko will attract the right investments and sponsors that would bolster our sports and athletes performances, launder the nation’s sports image abroad, as well as create employment opportunities for our youths in the country. If properly managed, our sports industry too is a source of tremendous FDI, that would help boost our economy. I wish Dikko all the best. It’s been a while I’ve seen an appointment that has been celebrated as much as Shehu Dikko’s.
