By Amaechi Agbo

The Chairman, National Sports Commission, NSC, Alhaji Shehu Dikko has disclosed the commission’s readiness to support the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation, NWF in the development of the sport in Nigeria.

The NSC Boss disclosed this while interacting with journalist at the 1st Engr Habu Gumel National Open Weightlifting Championship held in Abuja.

The three-day competition which commenced on Sunday December 1st through Tuesday, 2nd, saw athletes from the country converge and displayed their talents.

Speaking with journalists when he arrived to the venue of the competition on the closing day Tuesday, Alhaji Dikko expressed delight over the federation’s efforts to develop weightlifting in the country adding that the Commission will support them to actualise their objectives

“We at the NSC will do our best to partner with you to succeed. If the Federations succeed, we succeed, so we will do all we can to make you succeed. Hopefully we will make the next edition of this tournament much bigger.”

“Weightlifting is a sport that we have comparative advantage. So we will do all we can to enhance our chances in this sport. Grassroots development of this sport is key because we need regular supply of talents to replace ageing ones. We will do all we can to support you,” he said

He expressed optimism to see the atheiets who 0eeformed exceptionally at the championship feature at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, USA

“By 2028 I hope to see some of these weightlifters doing exploits at the Olympics,” he concluded.

The Engr Habu Gumel National Open Weightlifting Championship, held at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, signposts the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation’s quest, under the leadership of Dr Ibrahim Abdul to make weightlifting a vibrant sport in the country