Shehu Dikko Steps in as NSC Chairman, FG Scraps Sports Ministry, Again

*FIFA Council Member, Pinnick, describes Dikko as the right man for the job

Duro Ikhazuagbe

The Federal Government yesterday reintroduced the National Sports Commission (NSC) to replace the now rested Federal Ministry of Sports Development with Mallam Shehu Dikko as Chairman.

Dikko, a former second Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) under the Amaju Pinnick administration was also the Chairman of the League Management Company that managed the affairs of the Nigerian Professional Football League.

A graduate of Quantity Surveying from the Ahmadu Bello University with a Master’s degree in Business Administration from same university is a professional football administrator. With wide range experience in sports marketing, Dikko was involved in the drafting of the National Sports Commission bill as a consultant to the Federal  House of Representatives few years ago.

He will be taking over from immediate past Minister of Sports, Senator John Owan Enoh, who has been redeployed  as Minister of State in the Federal Ministry of Trade  and Investment.

The last Nigerian to lead the Commission was the late Shola Rhodes (SAN) before late maximum ruler, General Sani Abacha returned the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development with a substantive minister. Before Rhodes, Shehu Babayo, Alex Akinyele and Sylvanus Akinwunmi at various times managed Nigeria’s sporting affairs as NSC chairmen.

Meanwhile, former President of the NFF and Nigeria’s Member of the FIFA Council, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick, has felicitated with Mallam Dikko on his appointment.

“I thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu immensely for this big task handed over to one man that I am convinced can do a good job. Dikko was very close to me personally during our years at the NFF because I saw in him a man with profound vision, dynamism, capacity for a lot of good and great things, positivity and sincerity.

“Shehu Dikko personified productivity and creativity, and every good thing we accomplished in those years had his hand in it. He is tireless and selfless, and has acquired immense knowledge and experience in the sports industry over the past 30 years. I have no doubt that he’s the man to turn around our sports for the better and guarantee our athletes podium performance at the next Olympics in Los Angeles.”

The FIFA Council member describes Dikko as a team player with integrity, energy and resilience. Pinnick expressed confidence that Dikko will justify the confidence reposed in him by Mr. President.

“Dikko is highly under-rated but I see him picking the best brains in the land to work with him and set a template for the kind of sports industry that we have always wanted – one that will ultimately benefit all stakeholders and start to contribute significantly to the country’s Gross Domestic Product,” concludes Pinnick.