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The AthIetics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has showered praises on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu for re-introducing the National Sports Commission as the all purpose vehicle to drive the development and growth of Sports in the country.

The President of the AFN, Chief Tonobok Okowa, in a statement made available to journalists on Thursday, thanked President Tinubu for taking this bold, decisive and forward looking decision to bring back the National Sports Commission who’s history of success in the development of sports dates back to the pre-independent years.

“My President, the sporting fraternity in Nigeria and the rest of the world will forever remember this bold statement you have made with the National Sports Commission for good, and Nigeria sport with surely flourish in leaps and bounds in the years to come,” Chief Okowa said.

The AFN Boss, a seasoned sports administrator, sincerely believes that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will provide the much needed financial support and create the conducive environment for the Sports Commission to operate effectively.

“The President, means well for the youths of this great country, that explains why he brought back the NSC and appointed a sports technocrat to add some fillips to sports. Youths are the back bone of any economy and President Tinubu is doing just that with this moves,” the Delta State born Vice President of Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) stressed.

Okowa who is also the President of Confederation of African Athletics Zone II, went on to hail the President’s choice of Mallam Shehu Dikko as the man to navigate Nigeria Sports into global reckoning and make it the toast of all.

“Shehu Dikko a consummate Sports administrator’s appointment is a round peg in a round hole and it’s befitting. Dikko will bring some fresh thinking and drive into sports development in Nigeria. His vast knowledge and experience will help put Nigeria sports back on track,” the former chairman of Delta State Sports Commission stated.

“Your wealth of knowledge, vast experience in administration coupled with your marketing expertise will go a long way in driving sport-the all purpose vehicle for nation building.” He added.

“On behalf of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the athletics family in the country and beyond, I heartily rejoice with the astute administrator who is also a marketing expert, Mallam Shehu Dikko on this appointment and I believe you have the knowledge, understanding and experience to make the National Sports Commission work and sport in Nigeria blossom.

Dikko served as chairman of various committees in the NFF, including marketing and sponsorship. He was a member of the CAF Inter-Clubs Committee. And still a member of the FIFA Football Stakeholders Committee.

On Wednesday, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, named Dikko, the former Chairman of the Nigeria Professional Football League as Chairman of the re-introduced National Sports Commission, after the scrapping of the Federal Ministry of Sports Development.

“We will get it right with the National Sports Commission under the stewardship of Mallam Shehu Dikko, and we at the AFN and CAA Zone II are ready and willing to support this laudable initiative aimed at shaping a sporting landscape,” Chief Tonobok Okowa concluded.

For your information, the National Sports Commission, previously dissolved by the Muhammadu Buhari government in 2015, will now oversee sports development in Nigeria.

Established in 1971 was first dissolved in 1995 and re-introduced in 2007. The Commission has a rich history, dating back to 1910 with the creation of the Empire Day competition.