Amaju Pinnick, a former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, says returning the National Sports Commission (NSC) shows that President Bola Tinubu is aware of the enormous challenges facing Nigerian sports.
Pinnick, who told newsmen in Ibadan on Wednesday that Nigerians should be hopeful about sports development in the country, said the Commission’s return was a step in the right direction.
“What the Federal Government has done that is right is the recent rebirth of the NSC.
“It shows that it understands the enormity of the task and this is even so timely.
“And this is why I do not believe that we should be disappointed about Nigeria,” he said.
Pinnick pointed out that Nigeria, being one of the greatest countries in the world, must have challenges confronting its sports and the country in general.
“But this will soon come to an end with what is being done presently. This is why I am happy with the calibre of the person being entrusted with the Commission, Shehu Dikko.
“I will work with him to achieve succees in Nigeria’s sports development.
“He is a key member of our team and we are going to work together,” the former Chairman of Delta Sports Commission said.
He assured that he would be working with the Commission to put in place a practical way of realising the dream of podium performances by Nigerian men and women.
“But this is not going to be about four years but about eight years, because that is what it will take to get our athletes onto the podium at the big events.
“I am just saying this from a practical point of view that in eight years, and with all supervision, I am sure in eight years time, the Olympics of 2032, Nigeria will have medals if we continue like this,” Pinnick said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Pinnick had on Tuesday delivered a Personality Guest Lecture at the Faculty of Education, University of Ibadan.
The lecture’s title was “The Challenges of Sports Infrastructure and Maintenance in Nigeria: Prospect for the Podium Performance”.
