NSC Chairman Applauds Women’s Impact as Nigeria Netball Federation Is Inaugurated
The National Sports Commission (NSC) on Tuesday, May 5, inaugurated the board of the Nigeria Netball Federation (NNF), with its Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, hailing the immense contributions of women to Nigeria’s sporting success.
Speaking at the ceremony, Dikko said the decision to establish the NNF was driven by the consistent excellence of Nigerian women in global competitions.
‘We are just coming from the African Wrestling Championships where Nigeria emerged tops with the women winning the majority of the medals. Even at the just concluded World Athletics Relays, it was the women that put smiles on our faces. The impact of women in our sports is largely felt across all sports.
‘When the women are on parade, we go to sleep, rest assured that they will deliver,’ he stated.
He expressed delight that 70 percent of the new Federation’s membership is made up of women, describing netball as a sport that will empower female athletes. He also revealed plans to make Nigeria a global force in netball, noting that many of the Federation’s members played the game in school and that efforts are underway to introduce it widely in schools.
‘There are girls who wouldn’t want to play basketball but would readily do netball. We are also in contact with players of Nigerian descent doing exploits in the diaspora who are keen to represent the nation,’ he added.
In her acceptance speech, NNF President, Dr. (Mrs.) Esther Aluko, applauded the NSC leadership for granting netball official recognition. She described the move as historic, giving the sport institutional legitimacy and a platform for growth.
‘For decades netball drifted without a voice and without a champion at the level of government that could have reversed its fortunes. That changed the day the Honourable Chairman and the Director-General of the National Sports Commission made the bold, visionary decision to formally bring netball under the governance of the NSC through the Renewed Hope Agenda,’ she said.
