By Ijeoma Nwankpa, Abuja Nigeria.
The Chairman, National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko says Podium performances at the Olympics, which is hinged on sustainable domestic development is the ultimate target of his Commission.
Stressing that the Commission is willing to support the development of sports with a futuristic view to fielding sustained strong performances in the Olympics beginning with Los Angeles 2028.
Mallam Dikko sated this while hosting a delegation of the Showtime Flag Football League (SFFL), the premier organizers of flag football in Nigeria. Dikko, who was represented by Senior Special Adviser to the NSC Chairman, Barrister Musa Amadu, pledged support to the SFFL in a bid to professionalize the sport in Nigeria, develop it at the grassroots, to metamorphose into a Federation as a prerequisite to affiliation to the world governing body of the sport International Federation of American Football (IFAF) and put up a strong presence at the Olympics.
“We have noted the progress of flag football globally and it has been listed as an Olympic sport at LA 2028. Everything you need from us to make this sport a stronger force in this country, we will provide it. We at NSC are interested in collaborating with private sector for sports development and we are impressed with the fact that you already have a functional flag football arena in Lekki. This is a new variant of American football and we will want to collaborate to make it national in outlook,” he stated.
According to him, the NSC Chairman is more interested in taking the sport to the grassroots, discover and develop younger talents in the sport.
“If you have been monitoring our activities since we assumed office, we are totally leaning towards the grassroots development of sports. It is at that level that the future of sports is assured. This is a new sport and the assurance is in catching them very young. We are doing a lot with schools sports through collaborations with the NSSF, NUGA, NIPOGA, NACEGA etc. We can catch them young by introducing the sport in the primary schools. When we catch them young and nurture them, there is opportunity to export them in the long run and that will also earn us revenue”, he assured.
He added that ” it’s a new sport and we have to put up a show at LA 2028. Affiliation is key. The various flag football leagues in the county should be consolidated into one so that you can have a structure. When that is done, it is easier to start pushing for a Flag Football Federation which is a prerequisite for affiliation to IFAF”.
There are also strong possibilities of the sport being demonstrated at the National Sports Festival Abeokuta 2025 and NUGA 2025.
“Myself and the DG Hon. Olapade will relate with the necessary departments to see how it can be a demonstration sport at the National Sports Festival. It is also very feasible to demonstrate the sport at NUGA later this year so that it can become a NUGA sport going forward”, he pointed out.
The delegation was led by CEO Showtime Flag Football, Manal Nassar and Folajimi Akinsola (representing Chairman Showtime Flag), Adebare Adejumo (Commissioner Showtime Flag) and Esther Kalu (Head of Communication Showtime Flag).
They made a strong presentation seeking the Commission’s support in their bid to evolve into a Federation.
“For us to participate at the Olympics, we have to feature in IFAF tournaments and for us to be allowed to play in the IFAF tournaments, we have to be a Federation. And being a Federation will enable us to do proper grassroots development of the sport. We are here to solicit your support in this regard.”
