Dikko Engages Pamodzi Sports on Private Sector Participation, Investment in Sports
Abuja (Core Reporters) In his quest to driving a productive sports sector in Nigeria, the Chairman, National Sports Commission, (NSC) Mallam Shehu Dikko on Monday engaged the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Pamodzi Sports Marketing Ltd. Chief Mike Itemuagbor on private sector participation and investment in sports.
Dikko seized the opportunity of Itemiagbor’s visit to compile notes on how to turn the sporting sector from consumption to production. This is inline with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s sports economy mandate.
The former second vice president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFC) noted that Tinubu’s sports economy mandate requires continuos engagements with critical stakeholders. Adding, the National Sports Commission is committed to harnessing the opportunities inherent in the sector and creating value chains across the industry.
Core Reporters understand that discussions during the visit between the NSC Chairman, Dikko and Pamodzi Sports CEO Itemuagbor basically centered around advancing private sector participation and investment in sports.
According to Dikko, “The National Sports Commission is committed to harnessing the opportunities inherent in the sector and creating value chains across the industry. Gone are the days when the nation’s sporting facilities would lie idle during the weekends. The sports weekend economy should encourage people to build sports into their relaxation programs for the weekends.
“Increased sporting activities will create more sports jobs and the target of the sector contributing 3% to the nation’s GDP will become more realistic. All these will not be possible without the private sector involvement hence this meeting with Chief Itemuagbor where issues of mutual interest were on the front burner.
Recall that Itemuagbor is a former member of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) marketing committee, he has successfully marketed several local, international and global sporting events and programmes. He has been involved in the marketing of major championships and games staged in Nigeria like the African Youth Championship Nigeria 1995, FIFA U-20 World Cup Nigeria 1999, Africa Cup of Nations Ghana/Nigeria 2000, 8th All-Africa Games Nigeria 2003 and FIFA U-17 World Cup Nigeria 2009.
