NSC Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko has reiterated the commission’s commitment to having a busy sports calendar all through the year.
Speaking at the final of the National Carnival Polo Tournament at the Guards Polo Club, Abuja, Dikko opined that polo has the potential to contribute to the planned sports weekend economy with a flurry of activities.
His words, “Polo is one sport that brings together the lower, middle and higher level of the society and is also a very popular sport. So if you have events littered through the year not just in polo but across all sports, you can imagine the value chain it will create along the way. While here, I have taken my time to look around and I can count over 1000 people in employment here doing one activity or the other in these premises while this tournament is going on, those selling and those servicing the tournament and the polo ground itself. So it will be good if you hold these events more regularly, not just here, let other tournaments be scattered in other Polo Clubs across the country.”
He is optimistic that polo can be well harnessed to boost the drive towards the sports economy.
He continued, “Mr. President has given us the mandate to evolve the sports economy. We are therefore trying to put in place the sports weekend economy where our weekends will be littered with sporting activities across all sports. We want people to be planning their weekends with sports in mind. Sports is a major source of entertainment and relaxation as well as wealth creation and distribution. When people go for weekend hangouts, they spend money. We want sports to be part of that weekend relaxation mode. We no longer want to have sports facilities that lie fallow. They must be put to use, all year round especially the weekends.
“Sports goes beyond tournaments and medals. It should contribute a sizeable percentage of the nation’s GDP. This is our mission at NSC. We want to harvest all the opportunities available in the sector. In this tournament, I know there have been winners and losers on the pitch, but we are all winners because of the ripple effects of this atmosphere in our economy. We want more of this. We are working towards having a tournament like this somewhere in this country every weekend and I know polo can give us this.”
Dikko was accompanied to the event by former Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa. Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo (SAN) was also present.
The event was a two-day event with Dikko gracing the opening and closing ceremonies.
Max Air Polo Club defeated STL (Seyi Tinubu’s club) 4-3 to emerge winners of the Legislative Shield while Team FK3 defeated Team Musaco 6-5 to win the Minister’s Cup.
