A delegation from the Nigeria Veteran Wrestlers Association (NVWA) on Thursday paid a courtesy visit to Alhaji Shehu Dikko, the newly appointed Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), at his office in the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja. The veterans expressed their full support for Dikko’s leadership and offered suggestions to elevate Nigerian wrestling to its former prominence.
Speaking on behalf of the NVWA, Philip Momoh, the association’s Financial Secretary, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing Shehu Dikko to head the NSC, noting that his extensive experience and leadership in sports administration would benefit the country as a whole.
“We are honored to be here today, and we are extremely grateful to President Tinubu for choosing you, Alhaji Dikko,” Momoh said. “Your appointment is a great step forward for Nigerian sports. As past top wrestlers, we are confident that your technocratic approach will help raise the standard of sports in Nigeria, and we are ready to offer our full support to you in achieving that goal.”
Momoh, alongside other members of the delegation, highlighted the NVWA’s goal of returning Nigerian wrestling to its position as the best in Africa and among the top wrestling nations globally. The veterans stressed that they were committed to supporting efforts to revitalize the sport and build a sustainable future for wrestling in the country.
In a pivotal moment of the visit, the NVWA formally endorsed Morris Atula, a former Nigeria, Commonwealth, and World Wrestling Champion, for the position of President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF). Atula, known as the “Golden Warrior,” was described as a “true technocrat” with the vision and expertise necessary to steer Nigerian wrestling back to its glory days.
“Morris Atula is a team player who understands the nuances of the sport and the needs of both past and present wrestlers,” said Momoh. “His wealth of experience, both as a wrestler and a leader, makes him the ideal candidate to lead the NWF. We strongly believe that under his leadership, Nigerian wrestling will not only reclaim its status as a dominant force in Africa but also compete with the best on the world stage.”
In addition to endorsing Atula for the NWF presidency, the veterans also proposed a new strategy for developing wrestling talent across the country. They suggested that wrestling championships and developmental programs should be rotated across different regions of Nigeria, rather than concentrating on a single area. This, they argued, would allow for the discovery of a broader pool of talent and ensure that wrestling remains a nationwide priority.
“Wrestling is a sport that thrives when it is nurtured in all parts of the country,” Momoh explained. “By rotating championships across Nigeria, we can uncover hidden talents from different regions and build a stronger, more competitive wrestling community.”
Shehu Dikko expressed his appreciation for the veterans’ visit and their valuable recommendations. He assured the NVWA that he would give careful consideration to their proposals, particularly the call for a rotational approach to championships and their endorsement of Atula for the NWF presidency.
“I am grateful for your visit and your wise counsel,” Dikko said. “The suggestions you have made are important and will be taken into consideration as we look to make positive changes in Nigerian sports, particularly wrestling. I look forward to working closely with you all as we chart a course for the future of Nigerian wrestling.”
The meeting underscored the commitment of the NVWA to contribute to the development of wrestling in Nigeria and their belief in the ability of both Dikko and Atula to lead the sport to new heights. With the backing of the veteran wrestlers, the call for a new direction in Nigerian wrestling is set to gain momentum as the country seeks to reclaim its position as a global wrestling powerhouse.
