The Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, has reaffirmed his commitment to addressing the funding issues facing Nigerian sports. Speaking on Channels Television’s Sports Tonight on Thursday, Dikko discussed the creation of a National Sports Development Fund, which he believes will provide a sustainable solution to the ongoing funding challenges.
“The main issue of sports is about funding. The moment you can resolve the funding issue and get the sustainable flow of funding into sports, about 80 per cent of the problem is resolved,” Dikko explained.
“Through the National Sports Development Fund, we can generate funding and develop the necessary infrastructure, hire technical staff, and support athletes effectively.”
Dikko assured Nigerians that no sport would be favored over others, emphasizing a balanced approach. He noted that while football is highly popular, it would be leveraged to promote and develop other sports rather than receiving disproportionate focus.
“People should not have this fear about football,” Dikko said. “We should use football to drive other sports and give equal opportunities to all sports.”
He further explained that popular sports like football, which attracts high participation and interest across Nigeria, could serve as a tool to uplift less prominent sports. By capitalizing on sports with a comparative advantage, Dikko believes Nigeria can achieve better results in terms of medal prospects and overall sports economy.
Dikko’s vision involves promoting all sports according to their strengths, with football’s widespread appeal helping to pull other sports along, creating a more inclusive and supportive sports ecosystem in Nigeria.
