Habu Gumel, the President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), has promised that the new executive committee will endeavour to reposition the NOC family on a formidable financial platform to deliver stakeholders’ expectations.
Gumel was re-elected on Thursday at the NOC Congress in Jalingo, Taraba, after defeating Sanni Ndanusa, a former Minister of Sports, by 21 votes to 19 votes from the total 40 votes cast.
According to Tony Nezianya, the newly elected Public Relations Officer of the NOC, Gumel’s victory marked his third consecutive term and a fifth term overall for the Jigawa-born International Olympic Committee (IOC) member.
Gumel was first elected as NOC President in 2002 and was in office until 2010. He returned in 2014 and was in office till 2022 before winning another term at the recent election.
Gumel said that one of the things that the new administration would focus on in the next four years was how to position the NOC family on a formidable financial platform to ensure delivery of stakeholders’ expectations.
He said objective would be vigorously pursued vigorously.
According to the NOC president, the executive board will meet soon to establish the key commissions and articulate programmes under the new dispensation.
“We have just chosen a team to serve you, and I must confess that this is an onerous task that will require the full commitment of us all if we are to meet the lofty expectations of the various stakeholders in the Olympic Movement and our sports generally.
“I am particularly grateful to you all for the confidence reposed in me and my colleagues to serve you again for the next quadrennial.
“The election has come and gone but let me emphasise that these elections were not meant to divide the Olympic family, but rather to strengthen our democratic process and further strengthen our sporting value and principles, as one harmonious unit in line with globally acceptable best practices.
“The Olympiad is already in process with the Paris 2024 Olympic Games less than two years from now. Therefore, I enjoin all stakeholders in our national sports system to come together with the single purpose of ensuring a glorious outing of our contingent, both at the Olympic Games and other international competitions,” Nezianya quoted Gumel as saying.
Gumel congratulated all participants in the congress and expressed the hope to profit from the combination of their wealth of experiences and advice as they work to further reposition Nigeria’s sports and Olympism under this renewed mandate.
“We count on the support of all stakeholders, especially the Federal Government, the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, all our distinguished patrons, trustees and member-national federations in the challenges of our new assignment,’’ Gumel said.
In the other contested positions, Solomon Ogba of the Bobsled & Skeleton Federation won 24 votes to emerge as the 1st Vice-President against Francis Orbih of badminton who had 16.
Ishaku Tikon of the Table Tennis Federation ran unopposed for the Second Vice-President position with 38 votes, while the athletes’ representative in the body and former D’Tigers Captain, Olumide Oyedeji secured 24 votes to emerge as third Vice-President beating Daniel Igali of the Wrestling Federation who had 15 votes.
Maria Wophill of the Athletics Federation had one vote.
Olabisi Joseph of the School Sports Federation emerged as the 4th Vice-President after polling 23 votes to beat Rahinatu Garba 9, Hauwa Akinyemi 6, Nneka Ikem 2 and Rosaline Okah no vote.
The body elected Tunde Popoola of the Hockey Federation as its General Secretary with 24 votes and Abdullahi Mohammed as the Deputy General Secretary unopposed with 40 votes.
Musa Kida, the President, Nigerian Basketball Federation was elected Treasurer with 22 votes against Bappa Aliyu’s 18.
Tony Nezianya was elected Public Relations Officer (PRO).
The Electoral Committee Chairman, Ibrahim Galadima, confirmed the return of the elected officers who will run the affairs of the NOC for the next four years.
Nezianya, a veteran journalist and sports administrator, has served the NOC in the capacity for which he was elected for eight years between 2001 and 2009.
He has more than 34 years of public service experience in the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), most of which he spent in service of humanity through sports, and it is believed that he is a trustworthy friend for guidance and advice.
He has served meritoriously in many sports capacities, as an executive board member – the first was in the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN); the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF) and currently the Nigerian Triathlon Union (NTU). (NAN)
