By Amaechi Agbo

The Nigeria Shooting Sports Federation, NSSF, has appealed to the federal ministry of youth and sports to sports national or international shooting competition, Bestchoicesports.cm.ng can report

The NSSF board made the appeal during its emergency meeting held at the Package ‘B’ of the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja.

Rising with a 14 point communique where the board x-rayed its performances, challenges and prospects, the federation called on corporate bodies and private individuals to help in acquiring various weapons to enable the shooters perform at their utmost best.

While maintaining that it will intensify efforts in discovering and nurturing young shooters, the board commended it president, Brigadier General. Lonsdale O. Adeoye (Rtd) for his relentless efforts in turning around the fortunes of the federation within a short period time in office.  

“The board members welcome programmes that will enhance capacity building of the coaches, judges, referees, technical directors, etc, of the federation.

“To this end, the board appeals that the ministry youth and sports development should sponsor, at least, one national/international competition of the federation.

“The shooters be encouraged to buy their personal weapon(s) than waiting for government to get it for them.

“That organizations and or agencies should be encouraged to get weapons for their personnel and sponsor their team too,” part of the communiques rea.

The board appraised the performances of the president and commended him for the overhaul of the abandoned Nigerian National Shooting Range located at the Package B of the Moshood Abiola Stadium to international standard; successful hosting of an Integrator Coaching Clinic in Abuja for both Para and Able-Bodied Shooting Coaches in Nigeria; the International Shooting Sport Federation Certified Grade D Course in conjunction with the National Olympics Committee and Nigerian Lottery  Trust Funds; successfully hosted two editions of the Media Shooting Workshop and Competition for Sports Journalists in Nigeria; held the 2nd Late Major JO National Open Shooting Championship in Lagos; introduction of new games like Paint Ball, Target Sprint and Shot Gun (Trap) to meet up with global best practices; successful participation at the 5th National Youth Games in Ilorin, Kwara State, African Youth Games in Algiers, Algeria, and All Africa Games in Morocco, to mention but a few.

The federation also resolved to leverage on the availability and impact of the media to tell their own story by creating awareness to every nook and cranny of the country using the media so as to key into the new thinking of the Hon. Minister of Youth and Sports Development’s vision and mission for Skills Acquisitions, talents identification, development and to increase the quality of athletes delivered in order to achieve the key performance indicators of the ministry, including adequate and correct data keeping and President Muhammedu Buharis’ mission to gainfully employ 10 million youths before the end of his second tenure,

The federation also encouraged states to buy weapons and build ranges for their shooters and also draw up programmes to be used as central points of talent discovery and programme.

The meeting also highlighted the importance of attending international meetings of shooting because it is at such meetings that major decisions that will affect the federation, whether positively or negatively, are being taken and this is detrimental to the development of the federation (NSSF).

Furthermore, the board appealed by private and corporate persons and organizations and urged the Government/States should provide adequate and timely funding for shooting sport activities in their States

In order to ensure efficiency and credibility in routine assignments, work culture and ethics of the profession, it should be inculcated within the workforce, where documentation of every weapon is a must and when issuing out must be presented to the board and subject to approval before giving out.

The board appealed to all stakeholders to join hands with them in order to effectively develop shooting sports at all levels, seen that the government cannot shoulder it alone.

Those in attendance at the meeting were: Brigadier General. Lonsdale O. Adeoye (Rtd) (President); J. E. Orioko (JP ) (lst Vice. President); Major General J G S Hamakin (lnstitulional Representative/Acting Techincal Director); Shialsuk T. Thomas (Board Mem.52r, North West); MWO Abdul Madu (Athletes’ Representative); Eche Amos Nehe: liah (Board Member, Media); Ademola Daini (Representing Zonal Chairman, South West); Princess M. Idehen (Treasurer, NSSF) and Otumala Monica (Secretary).

While Group Captain Rahinatu Garba(Board Member); Brigadier General E L Etuk (Board Member); Major Joshua(Board member, North East); Dr. Irene Ogbogu (2nd Vice President); Dr. Idowu Keinde, all alled for permissions to be exempted from the meeting.