It was more than just a courtesy visit—it was a strategic alignment with the potential to reshape Nigeria’s sports landscape. On a high-level working visit to Abuja, the Initiator of the Niger Delta Sports Festival, Sir Itiako Ikpokpo, met with the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko, to discuss a shared vision for the future of sports in Nigeria.
The meeting, described by both parties as productive and forward-thinking, focused on ways to strengthen the sports economy and increase private sector participation in sports development across the country.
Speaking after the meeting, an elated Sir Ikpokpo said, “I have come to see the NSC Chairman because his vision of taking sports to the next level aligns with mine. It’s exceptional and unprecedented. I also wanted to personally thank him for his support in the successful organization of the Niger Delta Sports Festival.”
Sir Ikpokpo, a seasoned entrepreneur with a passion for grassroots sports development, has already initiated successful sports festivals in Delta State and the broader Niger Delta region. Now, he is looking to expand his impact on a national scale.
“I have initiated the Local Government Sports Festival in Delta and the Niger Delta Sports Festival, but there is more I can contribute at the federal level,” he said. “My passion for sports found a meeting point with Mallam Dikko, who has a reputable track record and is widely regarded as the father of modern sports administration in Nigeria.”
He added that the meeting was not just about shared ideas but also about shared responsibility. “With the sports economy vision being pursued by this administration, the private sector must be encouraged to get more involved in the industry. We have to put our money where our mouths are.”
Sir Ikpokpo also used the occasion to congratulate Mallam Dikko on his leadership and commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his appointment. “The Chairman’s work is already having a remarkable impact, and we are seeing visible changes. The President must be praised for placing a round peg in a round hole.”
As Nigeria continues to explore new avenues to turn sports into a viable economic sector, this alliance between visionary leadership and private sector drive may prove to be a turning point.
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