As Nigeria prepares for the upcoming sports federations elections later this year, the National Sports Commission (NSC) chairman, Shehu Dikko, has revealed that only competent and qualified individuals will vie.
Dikko declared that the days of an “all-comers affair” in sports administration are over, as the commission is introducing mechanisms to attract the right candidates.
“We are bringing out another platform and incentive that will attract the right people to come and contest for the presidency of the Federation.”
To achieve this, the NSC is setting up a governance code that will serve as a guideline for elected officials, ensuring their leadership aligns with the commission’s goals and objectives.
“We are putting a framework that will ensure that only the right people are able to contest the election. It can’t be an all-comers affair.”
According to Dikko, aspirants will need to meet specific criteria before being eligible to contest, a move that he believes will bring a surprising shift in the quality of leadership within the federations.
“You must be able to provide some certain guarantees, some certain feasibility before you can be a contestant to be the president of the Federation to do that. And I’m sure at the next Federation election, people will be shocked.”
He further highlighted that the commission seeks leaders who will not only possess technical expertise but will also be financially committed to the growth of their respective sports.
“The kind of personalities and the kind of people that will now come and be wanting to be the president and take over the mantle of leadership of those Federation.”
“Those are people that will be able to bring money from their pocket and put onto the sports and put not just their technical know-how, their hearts and pockets and minds should be on the sport. That’s the vision of what we have.”
With these new measures, the upcoming elections are set to mark a new era in Nigerian sports administration.
