By Ernest Osogbue

The recent inauguration of the Elite Athletes and Podium Board by the National Sports Commission NSC, looks like the beginning of good things to come in Nigerian sports, under the leadership of Mallam Shehu Dikko. I am not happy at the absence of Chioma Ajunwa and members of the Nigerian 4x400m relay team at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, in the board. People, who I believe would have added value to the board, but I must agree that the idea of the board is worthy of commendation and deserves our support.

As we say all the time, if you fail to plan, then you are planning to fail. The inauguration of the board at the media center of the MKO Abiola National Stadium Abuja, was therefore a welcome development. For years, we have witnessed Nigeria go into international competitions without a clear plan of what she aims to achieve. On the eve of competitions, you are wont to hear government officials say “we’re targeting 12 gold medals,” all in a bid to justify monies already budgeted but never utilized for the right purposes.

Since the coming of the NSC, under Shehu Dikko, at least, the right noises are being made. Though, as we all know, in sports, only results count. So, it doesn’t matter how much proper noises are being made, the ultimate issue is that Nigeria must win medals in international competitions to justify the faith reposed in the NSC.

From indications however, it is clear that Dikko and the NSC Director General, Bukola Olopade, enjoy the confidence and support of sports stakeholders. This includes members of the Nigerian sports fraternity, and members of the sporting press. I was at the venue of the inauguration of the Yusuf Alli led Elite Athletes and Podium Board, and I could tell that things are different. At the venue of the inauguration, both the old and the new set of Nigerian athletes were in attendance. Former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Emmanuel Babayaro, was present, as was Femi Ajilore, a former Super Eagles defender. Hameed Adio, formerly of the NTA, and a member of the Olympians Association, along with retired weightlifter, Lawrence Iquaibom, a man I hadn’t seen in years, were also in attendance.

There were others, like former captain of D’Tigers, Olumide Oyedeji, and track queen, Mary Onyali, both of them members of the board, and many other sports personalities, including, former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare. Who dropped by in solidarity with the new sports management team. For most people, this may not mean much, but as a sports reporter, I have had occasions to be at the venue of this type of event before, and you would scarcely see anyone not directly connected with the event at hand. But on this occasion, members of the Nigerian sports fraternity took their time to be present, either as a mark of support to the leadership of the NSC, or as a mark of support to their board member colleagues.

This is a good sign. Evidence that efforts are being made to unite Nigerian sports. We all know that nothing can succeed without stakeholders’ support and cooperation. The NSC chairman, and his DG must therefore take credit for this development. I came away from the venue of the inauguration with an optimistic smile on my face, and the words, “we will succeed” of Yusuf Alli, the board chairman ringing in my ears.

Mallam Dikko, and Bukola Olopade, took the opportunity of the inauguration, to outline some of their plans, like ensuring that sportsmen and women receive training grants on an annual basis, rather than only during Olympic or Commonwealth Games years. According to them, the welfare of athletes both retired and current, remains a top priority of the NSC. In Mallam Dikko’s words, “how can anyone be motivated to perform for Nigeria, when they see those who have performed before not being appreciated?” This matter has been at the heart of sports underdevelopment in our country, a situation where athletes who have represented Nigeria in the past remain unappreciated, and mostly live in penury. That scenario remains unsavory to many athletes, forcing them to dump Nigeria, and choose other countries. It remains to be seen, however, how Mallam Dikko and his team would solve that complicated jigsaw puzzle.

But for now, in the early days of the NSC, under Mallam Shehu Dikko as chairman, and Bukola Olopade as DG, indications are that for the first time, Nigeria has put square pegs in square holes. What is left, is how all that would translate to podium finishes, gold medals, and glory for team Nigeria. Until that time, the message is to keep our fingers crossed, and hope that the golden era of Nigerian sports is just around the corner.