Nigeria Targets African Shooting Hub With 3-Year Sponsorship Deal

The Nigeria Shooting Federation (NSF) is set to enter into a three-year renewable sponsorship agreement with a leading global shooting sports ammunition manufacturer as part of plans to develop the sport and make Nigeria a regional hub for shooting.

President of the federation, Commodore Shettima Mohammed Shagir, disclosed this on the sidelines of the ongoing Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC)/Olympic Solidarity Seminar on Good Governance for presidents of national sports federations in Abuja.

Shagir said the federation had submitted a draft memorandum of understanding (MoU) to the company, which he identified as “ILLI”, describing the proposed partnership as a major milestone for shooting sports in Nigeria.

“We have submitted a draft MoU with one of the biggest shooting sports ammunition producers in the whole world. They are ready to be the official sponsors of the Nigerian Shooting Sports Federation,” he said.

“I think this is a very, very big milestone in our shooting history.”

According to Shagir, the three-year renewable agreement will provide ammunition and equipment, support the federation’s participation in international competitions and contribute to the broader development of shooting in Nigeria.

He said the partnership was not designed solely to strengthen Nigeria’s national team but to establish the country as a regional centre for shooting sports development.

“It is for three years, renewable. It covers the provision of ammunition, provision of equipment and sponsorship into international sports, among a host of things that will develop shooting in Nigeria,” Shagir said.

“The idea is not just to develop shooting in Nigeria; it is to make Nigeria a hub, a regional hub for shooting. That is the whole idea behind the sponsorship.”

Shagir also said the proposed partnership would support grassroots development and create opportunities for athletes and other stakeholders across the country.

“Definitely,” he said when asked if grassroots development was part of the arrangement. “That is why it is a hub. People are going to develop across the entire sub-Saharan Africa.”

The federation president said improved funding and sponsorship remained central to his administration’s plans, noting that successful sports federations could create international opportunities for athletes while also providing livelihoods for people involved in the sport.

“I think every president will be happy when your federation is doing well. You are not only creating an opportunity for the country to be represented at international level, you are also creating opportunities for other people to get something doing that would perhaps bring some form of livelihood to them,” he said.

Shagir also acknowledged the support of the leadership of the National Sports Commission and the NOC, saying their collaboration had provided encouragement to federations seeking to improve their programmes.

He specifically mentioned NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko, Director-General Bukola Olopade and NOC President Engineer Habu Gumel, whom he said were working together to ensure that federations were supported.

“The three people work hand in hand to make sure that no federation is left behind,” he said.

“We are leveraging on the goodwill we enjoy from them to ensure that we don’t fall short of expectations.”

Shagir said the federation’s immediate focus would be to translate the proposed sponsorship into tangible development across the sport, with greater international participation, improved equipment and ammunition supplies, and stronger grassroots structures expected to form part of the process.