President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has insisted that Malam Shehu Dikko deserved his appointment as the chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC).
President Tinubu made the remark during a meeting with the new Leadership of the sports commission at the Presidential Villa over the weekend.
He lauded the achievements and visibility of the former chairman of the Nigeria Premier Football League and second vice president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
“I’ve been seeing you in the papers, congratulations. You earned it and deserve it,” President Tinubu said.
The president, while reiterating that Malam Shehu Dikko deserved to lead Nigeria’s sports industry at this critical period, enjoined Nigerians to support his administration’s drive to build a sustainable sports economy.
The profound words from the President highlighted Dikko’s exceptional achievements in sports administration and admirable portfolio as a professional.
Dikko’s international influence was also evident when he facilitated historic club visits from Manchester United and Portsmouth to Nigeria, many years ago, showcasing the nation’s potential on the global sports stage.
Serving as the 2nd Vice President of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), he had a deep understanding of the challenges within Nigerian sports administration.
His experience extends to senior roles with both the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA, granting him an invaluable insight into global standards and best practices.
In his response, Dikko expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for the trust reposed in him, pledging that the new leadership of the NSC would work diligently to actualize the “Renewed Hope” agenda for the nation’s sports development.
The soft-spoken administrator commended the President’s vision to transform the sports sector, assuring him of the NSC’s commitment to fulfilling its mandate.
Also present at the meeting were the Director General of the NSC, Hon. Bukola Olopade, and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports Development, Adeyinka Zulu.
The appointment of Dikko as NSC chairman is seen as a strategic move to drive growth and reforms within Nigeria’s sports ecosystem, aligning with the Tinubu administration’s broader goals for youth engagement and national development.
