By Keith Ebiuwe
In the aftermath of the 22nd National Sports Festival, perhaps, it is somewhat encouraging to digest and analyze the Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade’s clarion call, bordering on the Commission’s aspiration to “return Nigeria to its glory days in global sports”.
This clarion call is auspicious as elections into the various sporting federations are under way.
The sum of his statement revolves around the imperatives for harnessing viable components, in the quest for improved podium finishing at future global and assorted meets.
It is arguably pertinent to depose that, the organ of success must as a priority, be a combination of sound prolific approaches, prominent amongst which is, injecting veteran aficionados, who have over time acquired expertise in the dynamics of sports administration in line with the best global practices.
This line of thought and approach, find relevance in the fact that in recent times, Nigeria has been bereft of medals of any quality or color at major competitions.
The last Paris 2024 Olympiad is a clear testament to Nigeria’s dwindling fortunes at major outings.
This coterie of veterans if included in the sporting federations’ boards, are potential prime factors in the quest for reenacting Nigeria’s impressive and sterling exploits as in the years of yore.
In times past, Nigeria made impressionable imprints on virtually every sport, ranging from athletics to boxing through tennis, basketball, wrestling (free style and greco-roman) and a host of others.
Take basketball as a case study, the likes of Masai Ujiri, Col Sam’Olele’ Amedu, Obinna Ekezie and of course, Engr Musa Ahmed Kida(current chairman of the NNPC board) are icons equipped to take the “dunking game” to enhanced stellar pedestal.
Same goes for tennis which parades a galaxy of globally tested and acclaimed Nigerians players, who have etched their names on the global tennis horizon. Even as the current Dayo Akindoju led tennis Federation is propelling tennis to global reckoning as it was in the days of the David Imonites, Sadiq Abdullahis, Tony Muos, John Atieomos and legendary Nduka”Duke” Odizors. These veterans come into focus as indibutable backbones in ensuring ascendancy to global reckoning.
The core essence of engaging these stars of yesteryears is to avail the federations of their wealth of experiences.
At times like this, the interplay of sound financial management, as well as the adoption and application of globally acknowledged methodologies, especially attracting sponsorship of programs, can and will sure-footedly provide an upward thrust in Nigeria’s aspirations and desire, “to return to its glory days in global sports.”