NSC Targets To Upscale Sports Weekend Economy With Horse Racing

The sports economy mandate by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu can only be actualized with the activation of the sports weekend economy across all sports being propagated by the National Sports Commission.

The sports weekend economy entails that sports facilities across the country will be bubbling with sporting activities every weekend at both grassroots, community and elite level, a process that will be aided by weekend-based sports like horse racing.

This was the opinion of NSC Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko while hosting a delegation of the Nigeria Horse Racing Federation (NHRF) accompanied by the revered Emir of Zazzau, His Royal Highness Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli CON and Etsu of Nupe His Royal Highness Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar CON.

Mallam Dikko believes that the Commission’s quest to create over 3 million sporting jobs will be boosted by the weekend activities at the horse racing courses across all major cities in the country.

His words, “The horse racing activities clearly align with what we are trying to do. On the two occasions I attended the Sahel races in Bida and Kaduna this year, I wasn’t just watching the races, I was looking at the back end, estimating the sports jobs being sustained with those selling and the thousands of people at the venues. Even those training and looking after the horses are sports induced jobs.

“We want to emphasise on boosting sports infrastructure across the country and our plan is to have these sports facilities bubbling with activities every weekend. We don’t want to see idle venues on weekends. When people are planning their weekends, we want them to factor in one sporting event or the other near them. The uniqueness of horse racing makes the sport very viable for the sports weekend economy.”

He pledged his support to help the NHRF gain international prominence.

“Firstly we have to conclude the approvals to see the NHRF as a proper Federation under the NSC. I will try to fast track this because it is only after this that we can make the necessary funding allocations to support horse racing. We will encourage the state governments to either upgrade the horse racing courses within their states or construct new ones”, he added.

He acceded to the Etsu of Nupe’s request to help with necessary interventions to facilitate the construction of a horse racing course in the Federal Capital Territory.

House Committee Chairman on Sports Hon. Kabiru Amadu Mai Palace promised to help fast track regulations that will boost horse racing particularly and sports in general.

“Our aim in the Committee is to elevate sports in Nigeria and help NSC to move sports from consumption to production as envisioned by Mr. President . As a Committee, we will make sure that whatever comes to our table that will aid sports advancement will get speedy accent”, he said.

Earlier Etsu of Nupe HRH Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, while acknowledging the sterling contributions of Mallam Dikko to the development of sports in the country, thanked him for physically representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR at the races in Bida and Kaduna.

His Royal Highness further expressed confidence that the NSC helmsman will support the quest by the NHRF to be part of the global horse racing ecosystem.

“Horse racing is royalty, that is why you see us here today. It is the heritage of the royal fathers through our forefathers and we will not let it go. We have no doubt in our mind that with your support this NHRF will go international”, he said.

In his opening remark, Chairman of the NHRF Alhaji Tajudeen Aminu Dantata pointed out that after hosting five domestic races this year, they were laying the foundation for international competitiveness.

“We have our sights on global races like the Dubai World Cup, Saudi Cup and the Irish Race. This will introduce Nigeria to the forefront of global horse racing. We need the Commission’s collaboration and support to participate at the international stage”, he appealed.

While thanking the NSC Chairman for his unwavering support thus far, he solicited the Commission’s cooperation in the construction of modern horse racing courses across the country.

One of the key highlight of the event was the presentation of gift items to the NSC Chairman by the Emir of Zazzau HRH Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli CON, who commended Mallam Dikko for championing a revolution in the sporting sector and congratulated him for making the Zazzau Emirate proud as a worthy son of the soil.