By Amaechi Agbo

On June 13, 20l7, Retired Brigadier General Lonsdale Adeoye was elected unopposed, as the president of Nigeria Shooting Sports Federation, NSSF, a trust he bore with utmost humility and responsibility.

Prior to his emergence as NSSF President, the sports, which was over 39 years then, was moribund with little or no interest from previous administerators and leadership to give it the needed push in order to restore its glory.

Unlike what is common among people without leadership passion and zeal to work who would easily take the “unopposed” election for granted, General Lonsdale (Rtd) saw the trust of the stakeholders and athletes representatives as a sacred obligation to turn around the fortunes of shooting sports in Nigeria.

A pragmatic leader with foresight, in 2018, General Lonsdale Adeoye after the inauguration of the board on 21st July 2017, while carrying out his agenda, he conduced the first Media Workshop/Shooting competition for sports journalists across the country.

Held in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, reputable Nigeria sports journalists numbering 46 from across prestigious media outfits, including the editor of www.bestchoicesports.com.ng, Mr Amaechi Agbo, were in attendance.

The workshop/competition which was held at the Nigerian National Shooting Range, Package B, Moshood Abiola Stadium Complex, Abuja was aimed at acquainting journalists with the techniques, terminologies and rudiments of the sports of shooting.

By so doing, Retired General Adeoye signposted a new birth in shooting sport in Nigeria.

At the end of the training, media practitioners competed in two games – Air Pistol and Air Rifle (10 metres range) – with no gender disparity.

Although few journalists went home with either gold, silver or bronze medal, but that was not the crux of the matter.

General Adeoye did not only succeed in creating awareness for the over 30 years sport without impact but also inculcated in the journalists the hunger and passion to report the activities of the federation with utmost equanimity

The second edition of the programme was held the following year making General Lonsdale Adeoye the only sports federation president to have recognised the impact and importance of media in sports development as well as the first president to so conduct workshop for the pen and paper gentlemen.

As the September 30, 2021 sports Federations’ elections beckons, it is expected that having distinguished himself in his first four years, the members and stakholdeds in the Nigeria Shooting Sports Federation, NSSF will call on retired General Lonsdale Adeoye to come back and finish his unfinished landmark.