I am totally enamoured with Coach Uni Dan Kakwi’s article that was posted on “Legend Play for Peace,” one of our social media sports platforms, last week.
This is because he skilfully and repeatedly described all the problems that surrounded our National Sports Festival, which in turn dwarfed Nigeria’s progress in sports.
Furthermore, I am certain that the author encapsulated the feelings of every Nigerian who is disheartened by the gloomy state of Nigerian sports.
This is because, after reading the write-up, I came to the conclusion that practically everyone is aware that the issues preventing our sports from developing are well-known and that our sports managers must work diligently to address them.
This is because every problem that prevents our sports program, participation, and officiating from advancing as other African countries—not to mention other developed ones—has been painstakingly identified and listed by Coach Kakwi.
Our sports management must take the necessary actions to improve the situation since, in my opinion, the coach has revealed everything.
And that is why I consider Shehu Dikko, the incumbent chairman of the National Sports Commission with two conceivable situations before him as Nigeria’s number one sports administrator, which are either to pursue the route of success or that of failure.
With the president supports, he can be successful if he surrounds himself with the nation’s top sports thinkers, pays attention to what they have to say, and takes the appropriate actions to advance our sport.
However, he will fail if he proceeds with the outdated system that has been failing and demeaning the country after every international sporting event.
But to have his name clearly recorded in history Shehu Dikko must look back, examine all the awful incidents that stopped our sport from progressing, boycott them all, and support only those that can work for us if he wants to be successful.
But if he decides to do what the majority of past sports administrators have done, which is to put their personal interests ahead of the nation’s, he will surely fail.
This led me to believe that Coach Uni Dan Kakwi’s article served as a reminder to Dikko of all the work that still has to be done, chiefly to improve and fortify our sports.
In order for Dikko and others to read Coach Kakwi’s article and possibly put some of his recommendations into practice to improve our sport, I am sharing it.
Since the National Sports Festival is the cradle for the athletes that represent the country in nearly every international sporting event, Shehu Dikko should take national contests seriously. Consequently:
“Time for NSC to monitor the Sports Festival amidst systematic corruption”
For decades, the National Sports Festival, hosted by various states across Nigeria, has failed to deliver the expected outcomes.
The original vision of unearthing fresh talents and fostering unity through sports has been overshadowed by a toxic “win-at-all-cost” mentality, primarily driven by the lure of rewards and recognition.
This flawed approach came to a head during the last Olympic Games, where Nigeria—despite spending billions of naira*left without a viable print of progress raising serious questions.
Is the National Sports Festival truly serving its purpose of discovering and nurturing future stars, or has it become a playground for already established names and manipulated systems?
The Nigerian sports sector, under the supervision of the National Sports Commission (NSC), has long been plagued by systemic corruption.
Deep-rooted issues continue to undermine the growth of sports at every level, crushing the dreams of passionate athletes and eroding the credibility of our sporting institutions.
Key Issues Undermining Nigerian Sports
1. Meritless Selections: One of the most disturbing trends is the abandonment of merit in athlete selection. Coaches, instead of identifying and nurturing raw talent, are often forced to favor athletes with powerful connections.
This denies genuine prospects a fair chance, leaving many demoralized and disillusioned.
2. Godfatherism: Godfatherism has become a cancer eating deep into the fabric of Nigerian sports. Influential figures manipulate appointments and selections to serve their personal interests, whether in athlete placement or administrative roles.
This culture encourages mediocrity and discourages merit, weakening our competitive edge internationally.
3. Mismanagement of Grassroots Development Funds: Grassroots development the lifeblood of any thriving sports nation has been starved of the necessary resources due to widespread embezzlement.
Funds earmarked for building facilities, hosting community competitions, and supporting young athletes often vanish without trace, robbing the youth of opportunities to grow and shine.
4. Age Falsification: Age cheating remains a recurring scandal in Nigerian sports. The manipulation of athletes’ ages to fit into junior categories not only leads to embarrassment on the global stage but also displaces genuinely eligible talents.
The long-term effect is a weakened pipeline of talent and loss of credibility in international competitions.
Finally, it is high time the NSC took a firm stance. The National Sports Festival must return to its original mission: a platform for discovering and nurturing fresh talent.
There must be increased transparency, rigorous monitoring, and a commitment to reforms.
Your thoughts…
@Coach Uni Dan Kakwi
