By: Wale Ajayi
Still basking in the euphoria that greeted the Super Falcons’ 10th African Women’s Nations Cup victory, the nation is back on the dance floor yet again, as the Nigeria Women’s basketball team, also known as D’Tigress, have once again conquered Africa by winning the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket championship in Coted’viore.
The Nigerian ladies defeated their Malian counterparts in a hard-fought final by 78-64points to win their fifth straight title just one week after their counterparts in football, making it ten titles to once again affirm Nigeria’s position as the undisputed giant of Africa.
President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu must be the proudest president on the continent presently and just like he did with the Falcons, the president has once again congratulated the victorious basketballers, promising to host them to another lavish reception on their arrival.
“You did it, girls!@tigressNG”
Superb performance to become 5x consecutive Champions of Africa and seventh overall”.
“Well done, Coach Rena and the team.
You have made Nigeria proud. I am expecting you all, along with the trophy.
#MissionV – Done & Dusted”
~ PBAT
As we celebrate these heroines of our time, as we take time to reel out the adjectives to salute their brilliant success, we must also take time to ponder a little and ask ourselves some salient questions like, how come all these successes have been happening, and what exactly is the magic behind this?
Step forward Mallam Shehu Dikko, chairman of the National Sports Commission and his able deputy or DG, Bukola Olopade. They say, to whom much is given, much is expected, but in all sincerity, much was given to their predecessor but nothing was expected.
That is because before now, the groundwork for excellence and success was never properly done. In the past, sports federations have had to battle with low funding, infighting among officials, complete lack of trust and disconnect between athletes and officials, ego war between federation presidents and the ministry, among others.
Today, the story is completely different. The coming of Mallam Shehu Dikko and Bukola Olopade has changed the narrative completely. These renowned sports technocrats have brought their wealth of experience to the sector and daily, stakeholders are beginning to feel the full impact of their leadership.
In just under ten months, these men have used their international connections to influence the sector. Nigeria has successfully hosted four continental competitions. The National sports festival in Abeokuta was a showpiece and there are still lots more to come.
As President Bola Ahmed Tinubu gets set to host D’Tigress at the Aso Rock Villa, there is a need to once again salute his excellency for digging deep into his rich reservoir to identify these champions of our time.
In Mallam Shehu Dikko and Bukola Olopade, President Tinubu in his wisdom has given Nigeria and Nigerians two responsible and reliable sports administrators who understand the music of sports and know how to dance to its rhythm.
I will therefore want to use this medium to appeal to Mr President to please take a bow and be proud of this particular decision. The decision to return to the National Sports commission is legendary and the appointment of two of the best brains in the sector to supervise the commission is very commendable.
These men also deserve a standing ovation for their visible impact. Like the great Chinua Achebe said in the famous book “Things Fall Apart”, the Agama Lizard once said, that if he falls down from the Iroko tree and no one praises him, he will praise himself. Apart”,
I join millions of sports stakeholders to once again salute President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing Mallam Shehu Dikko as NSC chairman and Bukola Olopade as Director General. I also want to use this medium to congratulate both men for their good work as I join all basketball and indeed sports stakeholders to congratulate DTigress and the NBBF leadership and all those who combined to make this mission V dream a reality. I say nagode!.
