By Goodness Ekpang
EUFC President and former D’Tiger’s player, Ejike Ugboaja Christopher, MFR has hailed the appointment of Malam Shehu Dikko as the chairman of National Sports Commission (NSC), adding that his appointment is a new dawn in Nigerian sports.
Ugboaja said there couldn’t have been a better time to bring in Dikko into the driving seat of Nigerian sports than now. According to him, the Kaduna State born sports administrator brought stability in the Nigerian Professional football league (NPFL) while he was the League Management Company (LMC’s) chairman, therefore his ability to replicate the feat in LMC is not indoubt.
Ugboaja also commended President Bola Tinubu for the appointment of Dikko to held the NSC, adding that it’s a case of putting a round peg in a round hole.
He expressed confidence in Dikko’s ability to change the narrative in the sector coupled with his exploit in the football administration and marketing. He also noted that Dikko’s track record has well-prepared him for this critical role.
President Tinubu’s appointment of Dikko on Wednesday signaled a significant shift, as the Federal Ministry of Sports Development was replaced by the reintroduced National Sports Commission. Dikko previously served as Chairman of the Nigeria Professional Football League (now the Nigeria Premier Football League) and the NFF’s second Vice President. He has also chaired various NFF committees, including marketing and sponsorship, and remains a member of the FIFA Football Stakeholders Committee and the CAF Inter-Clubs Committee.
President Tinubu had on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, announced the scrapping of the Ministry of Sports Development and replacing it with the National Sports Commission. And the announcement was immediately followed by the appointment of Shehu Dikko as the Chairman of the National Sports Commission.
Ugboaja, the first African to be drafted to NBA and a former board member of the Nigerian basketball Federation (NBBF) has also advises Dikko to flank himself with people of like-minded, those who have what to offer to the development of Sports in the country and not parasites.
While wishing him a fruitful tenure, Ugboaja, MFR reminded Dikko of the fact that sports unite the country the more, as such urged him to guide and the lead the sector jealously.