10 Takeaways from Dikko’s meeting with NUGA Delegation

By Clement Nwankpa Jr 

Earlier today, NSC Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko continued his official engagements with stakeholders in the industry as he welcomed a delegation of the Nigeria University Games Association (NUGA) led by its president, Bawa Mohammed. Also present was Olympian Mary Onyali, a product of NUGA and World University Games.
Here are ten salient points from the meeting…

(1) THIS MEETING MEANT A LOT TO DIKKO

Dikko began his speech by highlighting the importance of the meeting with NUGA.
“There is a reason why NUGA is among my earliest engagements with stakeholders. It is not just a happenstance. It is deliberate. This shows the importance we attach to the development of schools sports”, he started.

(2) NSC WILL PRIORITIZE SCHOOLS SPORTS UP TO THE UNIVERSITY LEVEL

Mallam Dikko noted the importance of ensuring that the conveyor belt for our sports development is strengthened by ensuring that proper attention is paid to the development of sports in schools, from primary school up to the universities. To achieve this, there will be appropriate interface with the Ministry Education, a process that has already been initiated.
His words, “We are looking at how we can revive our schools sports from the grassroots up to the university level. We absolutely have plans for NUGA.”

(3) FUNDING OF SPORTS WILL BE INTENSIFIED TO ACHIEVE LAUDABLE GOALS IN THE SECTOR

Dikko pointed out, “If you get the funding right, eighty to ninety percent of the problems in sports are solved. So we will vigorously pursue the sports economy to fast-track sports development. All that have been listed here is only achievable with adequate funding. So we will make the sector viable to attract the necessary funds.”

(4) SPORTS FEDERATIONS MUST SHOW EVIDENCE OF DEVELOPMENT OF THE SPORT TO ATTRACT FUNDING FOR TOURNAMENTS

Federations who run to the Commission for funding ahead of international tournaments should heed this warning from Dikko. It is no longer business-as-usual.
“Any Sports Federation that doesn’t show plan of development, we will not listen to them when they come up seeking support for tournaments. They must show proof of their plans to develop the sport from grassroots”, he warned.

(5) SIX UNIVERSITIES EACH ZONE TO BE DESIGNATED AS CENTERS OF SPORTING EXCELLENCE

There will be pilot universities that will be mapped out as schools for sporting excellence.
He continued, “We have to designate six universities for now, one from each zone, to target as centers of excellence in sports. Athletes who want to do sports can target those schools.”

(6) LONG-TERM PLANNING FOR THE OLYMPICS

The era of planning for the Olympics just months to the event should belong to the past. In Dikko’s reckoning, such haphazard planning amounts to embarking on “sports tourism”.
His words, “We cannot just wake up and start planning for the Olympics. To me, that is sports tourism. We have to have long-term projects where we will target specific athletes and sports. It (planning for 2028 Olympics) has to start today not in 2028.”

(7) DELIBERATE EFFORT TO REVIVE NUGA

The NSC helmsman assured the NUGA delegation of the Commission’s support. He is committed to ensuring that NUGA’s lost glory is restored.
“We have to engage the private sector in funding and bringing NUGA back to what we used to know before. Those glory days must return”, he enthused.

(8) PUT YOUR HOUSE IN ORDER!

Dikko advised the NUGA delegation to put its house in order and ensure that all legal issues are sorted out to make for a seamless relationship with the association.
“Sort out all legal issues so that we wouldn’t have problems dealing with you. So you know now that I am aware that there were issues. Put your house in order!”, he said.

(9) COLLABORATION WITH MINISTRY OF EDUCATION.

What kept resonating from Dikko’s address is that the Commission cannot do it without involving the Education Ministry.
He stated, “We are doing the proper engagements and will work with the Ministry of Education to achieve all these.”

(10) NUGA SHOULD BANK ON NSC’S SUPPORT AND MAKE THEIR PRESENTATION

Earlier, NUGA President Bawa Mohammed while pointing out that Dikko as NSC chairman  was a round peg in a round hole, highlighted that the World University Games billed for July in Germany was topmost in the association’s programmes. He stated that they were not going cap in hand asking for money, but would present a project that would only require the commission’s support and partnership to facilitate their programmes.
To this, Dikko replied, “We will back you and support whatever you are planning to do. Just do your presentation. Let’s start from there.”