The National Sports Commission (NSC), led by Mallam Shehu Dikko, extended goodwill to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Abuja as part of the New Year celebrations, focusing on the transformative role of sports in rebuilding lives and communities.
The outreach, held at the Durumi IDP Camp, emphasized inclusivity and grassroots development through sports. Represented by his Technical Assistants, Lanre Ogunjobi and Barrister Uche George Egbe, Dikko reaffirmed the NSC’s dedication to promoting physical and mental well-being through active engagement in sports.
Dikko highlighted the significance of sports as a platform for exercise, social interaction, and personal growth.
“If a talent with high development potential is identified anywhere in Nigeria, including IDP camps, the National Sports Commission will put mechanisms in place to provide the necessary developmental support to nurture and grow such talent. Everyone deserves an opportunity to shine, regardless of their circumstances,” he stated.
To encourage participation in sports, the NSC donated kits, footballs, and other equipment to children at the camp. Additionally, food items, beverages, nutritional supplements, child care products, sanitary items, and other essentials were distributed to address the immediate needs of the residents.
The camp’s Public Relations Officer, Umar Gola, expressed appreciation for the NSC’s efforts, emphasizing the importance of sports for health and youth development.
“We urge the NSC Chairman to provide more sports facilities in the FCT. Our youth have limited access to such resources,” Gola stated.
Similarly, Madam Liyatu Ayuba, the Women’s Leader of the camp, conveyed her gratitude:
“The donations have brought smiles to our children’s faces. We are deeply thankful to the NSC Chairman.”
A Legacy of Talent Discovery
Mallam Shehu Dikko is no stranger to identifying talent among IDPs. As the former Chairman of the League Management Company (LMC), he facilitated the discovery of Nura Mohammed, a young talent from an IDP camp who went on to play for El Kanemi Warriors and the home-based Super Eagles. Mohammed represented Nigeria at the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN) as a 15-year-old.
The NSC remains committed to leveraging sports as a tool for inclusion, empowerment, and community development, ensuring no one is left behind in its mission to rebuild Nigerian sports from the grassroots.
