By Amaechi Agbo

The appointment of Dr Ibrahim Abdul as the Chairman, Nigeria Weightlifting Federation, NWF Caretaker Committee, signals a new dawn in the development of the sport in the country.

Though appointed for a limited three months’ period, his emergence as the number one weightlifter in Nigeria is no doubt a harbinger of good tiddings for the weightlifting stakeholders.

Following the election of former chairman of the committee, Honourable Tony Okowa as the President of Athletics Federation of NIgeria,. AFN last week, the minister of youth and sports development, Sunday Dare sanctioned the appointment of Dr Ibrahim as his successor.

And the young chairman is not unmindful of the task before him.

“The appointment is a good one for us in the weightlifting family because we always look forward to opportunities to contribute our quotta for the development of the federation,” Dr Ibrahim said in an interview over the weekend

“This appointment comes with responsibilities to serve even at a short period. It has a three-month duration within which we are to widwife processes for the conduct of general election in the federation.

“The appointment runs from June till September after Tokyo Olympics when we will be preparing for elections in which a new president is to be elected.”

Dr Ibrahim who is also the chairman, Federal Capital Territory FCT Weightlifting Association, he highlighted his focused below

“We are a caretaker Committee with the mandates to oversee the affairs of the federation pending when a new board is inaugurated. We are also expected to develop the sport especially at the grassroots.

“I have been a member of the board of the NWF for four years. I am also the chairman of the FCT Weightlifting Association.

“Weightlifting is a terrain I know and it is what I know how to do and I am going to do my best within the short period to make an impact.

“We will bring everybody on board so that we can continue to work together for the development of weightlifting in Nigeria,” he said.

Known for his insights in grassroots discoveries and development, Dr Ibrahim noted that the atmosphere in the federation is cordial adding that he would bring everybody on board to achieve set targets within the short period.

“I started my weightlifting activities from the grassroots, FCT to be precise until I became the chairman of the association and from there I moved to become a board member of the federation four years ago. It has been a very good atmosphere, there have been a good relationship.

“Unfortunately we lost our president in March last year and his departure brought some new challenges. However, we have be able to manage it well under the leadership of his successor, Honourable Tony Okowa before the dissolution of the board last month.

“As the chairman of the Caretaker Committee, I will make sure I bring everybody on board for the progress of the weightlifting.

“Weightlifting, you should know, is one of our strengths in sports globally for Nigeria. This is where we normally win laurels at continental and international competitions. We want to restore the lost glory. So all hand should be on deck to move the sport to greater heights.

“We want to develop new lifters, come out with grassroots programmes to catch them young young. Withing these three months, we have a lot of programmes lined up and by the special grace of God, we will realise all of them for the benefits of the country,” he concluded.

The three-member committee is made up two men and a woman –
Dr. Abdul Ibrahim, Chairman; Laurence Iquaibom, Member and Mrs Mariam Akande who is the Secretary of the committee

Honourable Tony Okowa who was the initial chairman of the committee relinquished the position after he won the Athletic Federation of Nigeria, AFN president in an election conducted in Abuja last week.

To feel the vacuum created, the minister of youth and sports development, Mr Sunday Dare appointed Dr Ibrahim Abdul to head the committee from June to September, 2021.