***NOC urges journalists to promote women’s sports, achievements

The Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, on Monday, said there is need for more opportunities for women in sports administration, leadership and journalism.

The NSC chairman disclosed that the commission had introduced a policy requiring sports federations to have a woman as a fifth vice-president as part of efforts to strengthen women’s representation in sports administration.

Dikko, disclosed this in Abuja, during a two-day training seminar for sports journalists organised by the Women’s Commission of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC).

Dikko urged sports journalists to promote women’s sports by highlighting female athletes’ skills, performances and achievements rather than focusing excessively on their physical appearance.

He said Nigerian women had consistently demonstrated their abilities across different sporting disciplines and administrative positions, stressing the need to translate their achievements into greater representation and leadership opportunities.

Dikko said: “Women have continued to deliver for Nigerian sports, and we must also deliver for them by creating more opportunities and providing the support they need.”

He added that additional female representatives had been included on the boards of sports federations to expand women’s participation in decision-making.

Dikko also revealed that the commission was considering increasing bonuses payable to the Super Falcons to bring them closer to the levels received by their male counterparts, the Super Eagles.

He cited the leadership of women in key departments of the NSC, including elite sports, grassroots sports development and sports festivals, as evidence of their growing role in sports administration.

The chairman also commended female administrators serving in sports federations, saying their commitment and contributions had helped advance the industry.

He added, “Sports journalists have an important role to play in promoting women, highlighting their achievements and ensuring that their contributions receive the attention they deserve.

“We need Nigerians represented at every level of international sports governance. This is not about an individual; it is about creating opportunities for Nigerians,” he said.

The NSC chairman commended the NOC for its capacity-building initiatives, noting that its programmes, supported by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), were helping to strengthen the expertise and competencies of sports stakeholders.

Speaking earlier, NOC President, Habu Gumel, said the Women’s Commission, inaugurated in 2023, had organised leadership programmes for female coaches, administrators, managers and technical officials across the six geopolitical zones.

Gumel said the programmes had provided mentorship, built capacity and encouraged women to pursue leadership positions in sports.

In her remarks, Chairperson of the NOC Women’s Commission, Professor Florence Adeyanju, urged journalists to challenge stereotypes that hinder women’s participation in sports.

Adeyanju expressed concern that media reports sometimes focused more on female athletes’ physical appearance than their sporting abilities and achievements.

She said participation in sports helped girls develop confidence, resilience and valuable life skills, while opening opportunities for personal and professional advancement.

She called on journalists to promote fairness, inclusiveness and equality through their reporting and public engagement.

President of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Isaiah Benjamin, commended the NOC for organising the training and urged sports federations to provide more opportunities for journalists to improve their professional skills.

Benjamin said about 40 journalists participated in the seminar, expressing hope that future editions would attract more sports writers from across the country.

Also speaking, NSC Director-General, Bukola Olopade, called for balanced and responsible sports reporting, urging journalists to verify information and obtain responses from relevant parties before publishing reports.

Olopade said credible reporting was essential to building public confidence, strengthening sports administration and attracting investment into the sector.

He also disclosed that efforts were being made to improve Nigerian journalists’ representation at international sporting events, particularly by creating more opportunities for female journalists.

He said he had directed that three of the four available journalist accreditation slots under discussion should be allocated to women.