The President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Mr. Habu Gumel, has commended President Bola Tinubu for what he described as visionary leadership and strong support for sports development.
In a statement issued through the committee’s spokesperson, Tony Nezianya, Gumel said the President’s proactive approach had propelled Nigerian sports to remarkable heights within a short period.
He praised Tinubu for recognising the socio-economic potential of sports and for inaugurating a focused leadership team to reposition the sector.
“On behalf of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, I wish to express profound gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his proactiveness towards sports development.
“The timely release of funds has been a game-changer, enabling sports managers to achieve milestones that were previously thought impossible,” Gumel said.
The NOC president also lauded the appointments of Shehu Dikko as Chairman and Bukola Olopade as Director-General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), describing them as strategic decisions.
According to him, the appointments have triggered a paradigm shift in sports administration.
“The nation is witnessing a paradigm shift in sports administration because the President appointed two focused individuals to lead the NSC.
“Their impressive performances before the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Sports during the budget defence showcased their progressive ideas and dedication to national goals,” he said.
Gumel noted that the renewed focus was already yielding results, citing Nigeria’s growing medal haul at international competitions.
He said the country had recorded 373 medals in international competitions, secured ₦50 billion in private sector investment and created over 140,000 jobs within a short period.
“By combining timely funding with progressive structural reforms, we are not just winning medals; we are building a sustainable sports economy that contributes to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product,” Gumel added.
He expressed confidence that, with the current momentum, Nigerian sports would achieve greater success on the global stage.
Gumel reaffirmed the NOC’s commitment to collaborating with the NSC leadership to promote talent development and ensure success at upcoming international competitions.