Olopade’s appointment as NSC director general a masterstroke, says Okowa

President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Tonobok Okowa, has described as the recent appointment of Bukola Olopade as director general of the National Sports Commission (NSC) as a masterstroke by the President Bola Tinubu administration.

President Tinubu, on Thursday, appointed Olopade as the NSC director general a few weeks after picking Shehu Dikko as chairman of the Commission.

The decision to pick Olopade, a Master Degree holder in Sports Management as the Director General of the Commission has sparked excitement across the nation.

Speaking with The Guardian, yesterday, Okowa described Tinubu’s choice of Olopade as top-tier selection, saying: “Now, we can sleep with our two eyes closed when it comes to planning and strategising for major sporting events. We now have a true sports technocrat, a thorough breed personality who understands what sports is all about.

“In the past, whenever you table any matter before those managing our sports, you hardly get positive response because of their lack of knowledge about the sports industry. Olopade has deep knowledge of football, athletics, basketball, swimming, wheelchair sports and the rest. I must commend Tinubu for this great research work,” Okowa, who is the immediate past chairman of Delta Sports Commission, said.

Some track and field athletes, who spoke with The Guardian, described Olopade as an all-rounder due to his ability to work ‘wonders’ against all odds.

Olopade, who is the chief executive officer of Nilayo Sports Management, first entered the Nigerian sporting sphere as Commissioner for Sports in Ogun State under former Governor Gbenga Daniel.

During his regime, Ogun State hosted the National Sports Festival, tagged ‘Gateway 2006.’

His managerial skill,