After his exploits as Commissioner of Sports in Ogun State, Sports lovers waited anxiously for that elevation, that will give Bukola Olopade a bigger responsibility as they saw in this Abeokuta born Sports technocrat, a visionary leader, with a knack for excellence and a eye for success.
That perhaps explains the celebration that greeted his appointment as Director General of the National Sports Commission. President Bola Tinubu must have done proper investigation and has found out that beyond his exploits as Commissioner for Sports, Olopade has painstakingly built a reputation for himself in Sports marketing and administration and has stood out as one of the best brains in the sector.
His success story with the wheelchair basketball team is well documented, his unparalleled achievements in the organisation and packaging of world-class Marathon events in Nigeria has attracted international recognition, commendation and endorsement. Added to these, is his drive for corporate sponsorship
for sports and his passion for success on and off the field.
In just over three months in office as Director General of the National Sports Commission, discussions among athletes, officials and other key stakeholders in the sector, have centered around the fresh ideas that Bukola Olopade has brought to the sector. They have taken time to identify five initiatives that deserves commendation.
- The Invited Junior Athletes (IJA) Initiative
Ahead of the fast approaching National Sports festival, a competition that brings together the best of Nigeria Sportsmen and women from the 36 states of the federation and the federal capital territory Abuja. Organizers of this year’s event, that is, the local organizing committee in conjuction with the main organizing committee came up with the 38th state initiative. It is a proposal that will see the best junior athletes across the country, majority of whom are standout performers from the National Youth Games, compete against esterblished athletes, representing the 38th state.
According to the organizers, the whole idea behind this new initiative, is to give these young men and women a chance to prove a point. If any young athlete does so well to upset an elite athlete, he or she stands a good chance to make team Nigeria’s list for future major international competitions
- Chief Operating Officers For All Sporting Federations
In a desperate bid to make all Sporting federation self sustaining, the National Sports Commission through the office of the Director General has appointed Chief Operating Officers (COO) for all 38 Sport federations. Their duties among others, is to embark on rigorous sponsorship drive that will make the federation self sustaining and semi autonomous. One of the cardinal reasons behind the setting up of the National Sports Commission is developing a self sustaining Sports Economy that will stand the test of time. The Director General of the commission is the driving force behind this and he has mandated all the chief operating officers to key in to this new vision.
- The Administrative Charge Levy On All NSC Contractors
This is one initiative that has already started yielding huge dividends. The whole idea behind this initiative is simple. The NSC has asked all contractors doing business the commission to henceforth, pay an administrative Charge levy for every contracts they get from the commission. This levy will then be used as grants in supporting Nigeria athletes at international meets or competitions.
- The Setting Up Of the Podium Elite Performance Board.
That’s another landmark achievement that deserves commendation. Headed by famous Olympian, Yusuf Ali, this committee has been institutionalized and have been given a mandate to monitor the performance of all Sporting federations and their athletes and make recommendations where needed. Their duty among others, is to identify exceptional Nigeria athletes doing great things at international and world meets and recommend same to their various federation to be penciled down for future international competitions as the nation targets podium finish at the commonwealth and Olympic games
- Olopade is intentional in his determination to see all sports succeed
The NSC Director General traveled over 18hours by flight from Nigeria to Malaysia to support the Nigeria Under 19 women’s team at the Under 19 Women’s World Cup, where the girls finished as the fifth best team in the world and qualified for the cricket world cup which coincidentally will be Nigeria’s first World Cup appearance. Before going to Malaysia, Olopade was in Morocco to support Ademola Lookman as he emerged the best African footballer on the continent. The NSC DG has also thrown his weight behind Nigeria’s male Basketball team ‘D Tigers’ and the Nigeria Badminton team in their quest for international success.