NSC Chairman Dikko Pledges to Support Para Powerlifters Ahead World, Regional Championships
Abuja (Core Reporters) The Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC) Mallam Shehu Dikko has promised to support the Nigerian Para Powerlifters as they battle for Paralympics tickets at the World Championships billed for Santiago in August and the Regional Championships holding in Egypt in October.
A Para Powerlifting delegation led by Technical Director Ruel Ishaku, accompanied by Athletes Representative Alice Folashade Oluwafemiayo and coach Oluwakemi Oyebola was at the NSC Headquarters to interface with the NSC Chairman on the forthcoming championships and the need to boost the morale of the Para Powerlifters.
They pointed out that the Nigerian contingent had missed many World Championships and were left with these two championships if they are to feature at the next Paralympics. For maximum advantage of the championships, the group appealed for the Commission’s support to field a full team of 20 athletes.
Mallam Dikko assured them of the Commission’s support as they aim to make the nation proud.
He said, “The Para powerlifters have always saved our blushes at global events. They always make us proud. At the last Games I watched our esteemed Olympian (Oluwafemiayo) breaking records like water. So we will support you to even do more. If the full team of 20 will boost your chances why not? We will support you. These Championships are part of the qualifiers for the Olympics so we will throw in all we have to make the most of it.”
To the group’s appeal for better equipment, he replied, “There is provision in the budget for this. If you don’t have good equipment, how will you prepare well for the Championships. If we are expecting results, you have to be well prepared. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR has been so supportive of this sector. There is a budget line for preparations for the Olympics and Commonwealth Games, and generally sports development. Part of the preparation is provision of adequate equipment. We will utilize that. I assure you that you have our full backing.”
He continued, “We are taking a road less traveled. We are moving this sector from this emphasis on competitions to development. Real sports development involves proper equipment and infrastructure. We will put all this in place so that sporting success will no longer be a happenstance but a way of life. We don’t need to be stumbling unto success. There should be a deliberate effort to institutionalise success. It’s that culture that we are trying to instill by doing real grassroots sports development.’
