Hurray, it is a new year, the year we have all been waiting for.
The year 2025 is already pregnant with activities and with that comes lots of expectations. It's definitely going to be a busy year for Nigeria Sports as the calender offers so much in terms of competition for all the sport federations.
It is also the year for the anointed messiahs, Mallam Shehu Dikko and Bukola Olopade to sit back and start putting all the plans to work. To whom much is given, much is expected.
Both men were appointed based on their achievements and track records which in all sincerity, put them on a different pedestrian and stands them out as two of the best brains in the sport sector. Beyond that, these individuals have shown in time past, that they have the capacity to deliver when the opportunity arises and that explains without mincing words, the rate at which Nigerians from far and near have congratulated president Bola Ahmed Tinubu for giving Nigeria sports what it truly deserves in terms of leadership.
Shehu Dikko in just under two decades has carved a niche for himself as one of Nigeria's most outstanding Sports marketer. He was among the few who first saw the need to do business with the Nigeria Premier League under the leadership of the late chief Oyuiki Obaseki before extending that hand of friendship to the first chairman of the League Management Company LMC, Honourable Nduka Irabor.
Dikko later became Chairnan of the LMC and successfully initiated policies and strategies that helped to put the NPFL on the World Map as one of the fastest growing football leagues in Africa. During his tenure as LMC chairman and second Vice President of the Nigeria football federation, Shehu Dikko singlehandedly revived corporate involvement in Nigeria football and was key to the success story of the Nigeria football federation between 2015 and 2022. This was the period when Nigeria football became 70 percent self sustaining, all thanks to the ingenuity of Mallam Shehu Dikko and his good friend Amaju Pinnick.
Bukola Olopade on his part, has always been a successful politician who rose to stardom after his exploits as commissioner of Sports in Ogun state. The 2006 National Sports festival will remain indelible in the hearts of sports loving Nigerians as the best Sports festival that was ever staged. Almost 20 years after, the state is still leveraging on the success story of 2006 as it look poised to host yet another showpiece event.
Between 2006 and Now, Olopade has grown to become a household name in the sports business industry. He had tried his hands on many things, was the first Nigerian sport marketer to delve into the world of Wheelchair Basketball, a sport he singlehandedly projected from absolute obscurity to limelight.
He made the corporate world see the need to help these underprivileged few and has managed to pump over 500m naira worth of money from corporate sponsorship into WheelchairBasketball and Esports.
The setting up of Nilayo Sports Marketing Limited NSML, was the game changer for Olopade. With that company, he has done so much especially with Marathon Races. The Lagos, Abuja and Ogun Marathon race all have sponsorship packages that have risen into billions of naira in just under ten years.
Now, as Director General of the National Sports Commission, Olopade cannot hope for a more reliable and capable chairman than Shehu Dikko, as both men have been given the mandate of reviving, rebranding and repositioning Nigeria Sports on the World map. The year 2025 starts with the Africa Nations Cup for for Home based footballers and will end with the Africa Cup of Nations, a competition Nigeria came so close to winning in Ivory coast just last year.
The home based Super Eagles qualified for the CHAN Competition only few days ago after defeating the Black Galaxies of Ghana over two legs. Coincidentally, Nigeria have failed to qualify for this competition in the last two editions, meaning that the National Sports Commission is happy to be part of this and have already captured same as part of an elaborate budget that will bring smiles to the faces of Nigeria Sportsmen and women.
Just a few days ago, the Federal Government approved the NSC Budget proposal of 78billion naira but the truth in all of these is that, the entire budgetary calculations will stretch into 180billion naira putting into consideration the massive projects that the commission has lined up in the coming years.
According to NSC Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko, Nigerians should look forward to a season of change in the way things were done in the sporting sector. The commision is determined to right many wrongs by putting in place lasting legacies that will stand the test of time.
Dikko says the commission plans to revive all the federal government stadia in order to make available platform for Nigeria to identify budding talents in all sports.
The NSC is also looking to build Sports centers in the geo political zones while also encouraging state sports councils to join them in developing sports in their zones.
The vision from these two technocrats is huge. They are aware of the expectations of Nigerians and also conscious of the fact that beyond all these, they also want success and results.
In the coming days, the NSC in conjuction with the Nigeria football federation NFF, is working to employ a responsible and respectable technical adviser for the Super Eagles of Nigeria as they look to vigorously approach the remaining six matches of the 2026 World Cup Qualifier.
The ultimate goal for the Commision is to ensure the Super Eagles qualify for the World Cup and it seem as if the federal government has given them a mandate in this regard.
There is a special budget earmarked for the qualifiers and like in 2009, the Super Eagles will be getting the best encouragement any National team ever got to qualify for a World championship.
Every other sport federation will be given same attention under this dispensation. The National Sports Commission under the able leadership of Mallam Shehu Dikko and Bukola Olopade have also captured the training grants and other bonuses of elite athletes to keep them at the top of their game.
in the fresh budget proposal. The days when Nigeria athletes complain of lack of care or encouragement before, during and after international competitions is over. This new regime accordimg to the NSC will do everything possible to make the welfare of athletes a top priority.
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