National Sports Commission’s Elite Athletes and Podium Board has been inaugurated by the Chairman of the commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko.
The board which has former Nigerian international Yusuf Ali as chief executive officer, has been charged to swing into action to ensure a sustainable scientific system for Nigerian athletes discovery and welfare for better podium performances.
Dikko said the athletes Elite and Podium board has been established to solve all the lingering problems that are always associated with Nigerian athletes and their performances at major international competitions.
“This is why for the first time in Nigerian Sports we have created an annual budget line for all our major international competitions such as the Olympics Games and the Commonwealth games”.
“The reason why we are calling this a board not a committee is because a committee is temporary but we want to make this a structural process that will outlive all of us”.
“As the act is being reviewed this particular board is among the new initiatives that will come under it that will be legally backed”
“This is also why we also have a budget line to fund this particular board. This funding might not be enough but it will show the direction the Government is heading which will stimulate the Private sector”, the Chairman explained.
Director General of the NSC, Hon Bukola Olopade said the board has been given the clear mandate to identify the Country’s priority Sports and support others for enhanced performance.
“Elite board has also been given the responsibilities to determine appropriate incentives for optimal athletes performance and also providing life-aftee-sports coaching for Elite Athletes”.
“This Committee will also conduct feasibility studies for high performance and Athletes development centres and also recommend appropriate professionals and remuneration structures”, he said.
Meanwhile Special Senior Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare has also charged the newly inaugurated board to live up to the expectations bestowed on them to ensure Nigeria produces consistent podium performances.
The Former Minister of Youth and Sports was a surprise guest of honour at the inauguration with his presence further attesting to the Unwavering commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the ongoing structural reforms going on in the Sports Commission.
In his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer , CEO, of the Board, Yusuf Ali, assured on behalf of the members that the board will deliver on the mandate given to them and he thanked the leadership of the NSC for finding him and his members worthy to undertake the task.
The members of the committee include Prof. ken Anugweje who is a member and Adviser, Olumide Bamiduro who is a member and secretary, Dr Emmanuel Igbinosa, Salihu Abubakar, Aku Aghazu, Tunde Adelakun, Prof Sadiq Abdulahi and Mary Onyali.
Other members Include, Hauwa Kulu Akinyemi, Sunday Odebode, Olalekan Alabi, Otunba Sylvester Ikuejamoye representing (NAPHER-SD), Olumide Oyedeji representing the Nigeria Olympics committee, Isa Suleiman, representing PCN, Mrs Opara Tecla, Adebimpe Adewale and Shagaya Abdulmumeen.
