By: Chinedum Ohanusi
Navy Captain Olatunji Bamidele Ayoade, has expressed implicit confidence, in the ability of the National Sports Commission to fully inbestihate, and unravel all the facts that precipitated the inconclusive elections of the Nigeria Shooting Sports Federation (NSSF).
Navy Captain Ayoade had in the last four years led the Nigeria Shooting Sports Federation (NSSF) as President, and is seeking reelection to continue on the saddle for another four-year term.
But after 6 rounds of voting, in the Presidential election, the polls were deadlocked at 6-6, and was later declared inconclusive.
This promoted the Sports Commission to order a re-run on October 18, before it was later shifted by a week, to October 15, 2025.
Aside from Captain Ayoade, the other contenders were Commodore Mohammed Shaettima, and Saheed Yusuf of the DSS, who withdrew after the first round of balloting.
Considering the literny of achievements to his name, one would have thought Navy Captain Ayoade’s re-election ought to be smooth sailing.
Asked why it was not a walk in the park for him, Navy Captain Ayoade told Sports Day that someone without the requisite accreditation, forced himself into the election Hall, and voted; a case he said is being looked at by the NSC.
Reeling out his impressive achievements, at a valedictory meeting of the outgoing board of the Shooting Federation,
Navy Captain Ayoade received a standing ovation for what he and the board accomplished, despite receiving very little support from government.
The long list of achievements are:
1.Participation of the federation, at the Nigeria Youth Games (NYG) Ilorin 2021, which he personally funded, and two female athletes from Kano State were discovered at the fiesta.
2. Next was the African Shooting Sport Federation (ASSF) Annual General Meeting in Cairo, Egypt, which he attended at his own expenses; while the Sports Ministry sponsored the Secretary, and the Department of State Services (DSS) sponsored Miss Mfoniso Ibok.
At the AGM, Nigeria, Cameroun, and Senegal were to be suspended due to non-payment of affiliation dues. But he cleared the backlog of three years, and also deposited $3,000 for subsequent dues.
Navy Captain Ayoade also secured a positive alliance with the African Shooting Sports Federation President Mounir Sabet, which has since facilitated bilateral cooperation with Egypt.
For over three years, he single-handedly sponsored athletes to represent Nigeria at various international competitions, whilst the DSS personnel were funded by their agency.
The international competitions are:
a. World Cup, Egypt – 2021.
b. World Cup, Egypt – 2022.
c. World Cup, Baku – 2023.
d. African Championships, Egypt – 2023.
He also funded other strategic developmental interventions, including:
a. Engagement of two foreign coaches.
b. Camping of over 20 athletes in Abuja.
c. Camping of eight athletes in Egypt.
d. Payment of $1,000 affiliation fees for 2023 and 2024 at the ISSF, in Italy (that is November 2024).
e. Invitation of Colonel Ahmed to train athletes in 2022 .
f. Securing €20,000 worth of equipment from ISSF (November 2024).
g. Organizing a shooter training enlightenment programme in Plateau State.
6. These contributions, though personal, are made in service of the NSSF and Nigeria.
Having done this much, he urged the delegates that will vote on October 25, to put the Shooting Federation first, be reminded that he did a lot to ameliorate the two main issues that crippled the federation in the past – funding and visibiliy.
Having done this much, he said he needed another four year tenure to ensure that the gains made in the last four years are consolidated, to a point where Shooting Sports will begin winning laurels for Nigeria at major international competitions.
