The leadership of the Nigeria Judo Federation (NJF) has appealed to Sports Minister and Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Dr. Tamuno Danagogo, to come to the rescue of the federation in its effort to carry out its laudable programmes and participate in qualifiers for the Rio 2016 Olympics among others.
Dr. Tammy Danagogo
President of the NJF, Musa Oshodi, said the call became necessary in order for the board members to focus on repositioning the sport in the country.
He said: “To get sponsorship for our programmes, we are reaching out to corporate Nigeria and some other sports-loving organisations. But the support of the Sports Ministry is very crucial.
“We have the All Africa Games (AAG) around the corner and the Olympics qualifiers are on-going. We have missed out of three of the qualifiers due to the nonchalant attitude of the past leadership.
In a related development, the NJF chief hailed the minister for the feat of Nigerian sportsmen at the World Cup in Brazil and Commonwealth Games in Glasgow this year.
The achievements of Team Nigeria at the just-concluded Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow, Scotland, and that of the Super Eagles at the World Cup in Brazil have continued to draw commendations from top guns in the sports sector.
In a letter addressed to the Sports Minister, to intimate him of the recent development in the NJF, Oshodi praised him for superintending Nigeria’s twin successes at the World Cup in Brazil and the Commonwealth Games in Scotland.
Nigeria advanced to the second round of the world football summit and placed eighth at the Commonwealth Games which had over 70 countries in attendance.
He said: “Those feats have given indication that the future is bright for Nigerian sports under the minister.
“For our teams to have performed so well at the two events despite that you have been in charge for a short time means Nigerian sports would be taken to a greater height during your tenure.”
On the state of judo, he informed the minister of the impeachment of former federation president, Timothy Nsirim, for anti-federation activities.
He told the minister that the new leadership of the NJF is determined to reposition the sport and clean the image of the federation now seen as a haven of visa racketeers.
According to him, “What we have now is a more focused leadership determined to reposition the sport and clean its battered image as a haven of visa racketeers due to the activities of unscrupulous judokas and dubious staff of the Sports Ministry.”
