Dikko: Hosting international championships will aid facilities’ development

Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko, has said that the country is open to hosting as many international competitions as possible, stating that the NSC already has the budgetary support and clear roadmap for upgrading the country’s facilities.,

Dikko said the NSC plans to put all its facilities to optimum use by hosting international tournaments. Speaking while receiving a delegation of the World Karate Federation (WKF), led by its vice president and Inspection Delegate, Bechir Cherif and President of the Karate Federation of Nigeria, Silas Agara, Dikko pointed out that the issue of upgrading the nation’s sporting facilities and hosting as many international tournaments as possible is non-negotiable.

The WKF delegation was at the Commission to intimate Dikko on the outcome of inspection of facilities ahead of the African Karate Championships billed for Abuja from July 25 to 27.

Dikko said: Tinubu has mandated us to harness and “President Bola Ahmed advance the sports economy potentials of Nigeria. To execute this, he has also ordered that the nation’s sporting facilities should be upscaled to conform to global standards and ultimately hosting international tournaments across the various sports. So this is a command and we will execute it to the letter. It is not just the international tournaments but domestic tournaments as well.

“When we host these tournaments, we keep our youths meaningfully engaged and create sports jobs. Upscaling these facilities and hosting international tournaments will help our sports economy drive and the sustainable development of our domestic sports. We are targeting for sports to contribute meaningfully to the nation’s GDP and we are very open to these tournaments. As many as possible, bring them on! Hosting these international tournaments has been paramount in my engagements with global stakeholders at the just concluded ANOCA General Assembly in Algiers.

“We just hosted the ECOWAS Traditional Wrestling Tournament; we will soon host the African Women Volleyball Championship and now African Karate Championship is on the line. We are planning for Nigeria to be among the sporting headquarters of the globe. After this, we can even go for the World Karate Championship. Why not? This is not all about Abuja. We want to develop our facilities across the country, such that these tournaments can be hosted anywhere in Nigeria.”

He assured Cherif that Nigeria would host a memorable event in July, saying: “I’m happy you (Cherif) were here in 2003 so you are a member of the family. We assure you that just like the ECOWAS Traditional Wrestling Tournament, we will be good hosts of the African Karate Championship. By the time you come in July, you will see even more development on the facilities.”

Earlier, Agara thanked the NSC chairman for the Commission’s support towards the hosting of the Championship. He said: “When I came here the last time, we were not sure of getting this hosting right, but about three weeks ago, we got a letter from the world body informing us of this inspection. I must thank the chairman and the Commission for your support so far. With your support, I have no doubt that the future of karate in Nigeria is so bright.”