Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko on Tuesday received in his office, officials of the National Association of Physical, Health Education, Research, Sports and Dance (NAPHER.SD), and promised to work with the body to fill gaps in competency and professional areas in the nation’s sports sector.
“NAPHER.SD occupies an important and strategic position in the country’s sports. We cannot thank you enough for your contribution to the drafting of the NSC Bill and we have also received your fresh recommendations to the Bill. The truth is that we must be intentional about bringing real professionals to man several departments in the Commission and we will work with you as strategic partners.
“The value chain around sports is huge, with the diverse industries that can be created around sports and across territories. Sports also come to the fore when we discuss social cohesion, security and human development. What sport is able to contribute to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product will be a measure of our success going forward. In the next two years, we foresee a situation in which sports will be one of the fundamental industries of the Nigeria economy.”
Earlier, NAPHER.SD President, Professor Florence Adeyanju had tabled the areas in which the body can be of assistance to the NSC, including but not limited to organization of sports outreach programs and competitions at the grassroots, talent identification, development and promotion, policy development and reviews, advisory role in conflict resolution, research, measurement and evaluation, women sports empowerment and gender equity initiatives, and manning sports organizations, departments and units.
“We urge you to ensure that professionals are appointed to various departments, professionally-trained personnel are posted to sports federations, intensify training and re-training of sports officers and technical staff, pay attention to grassroots sports development, facilitate synergy between NSC and the Ministry of Education, utilize research experts to undertake establishment of skill and fitness norms for Nigeria, pay adequate attention to athletes motivation and welfare, and get involved in active marketing and sponsorship drives from corporate organizations.”
