By Aderonke Ojo
Malam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), has officially sworn in the newly elected President and Board members of the Cycling Federation of Nigeria (CFN) on Monday in Abuja .
The newly elected members include :
President, Chief Giandomenico Massari,Vice President, 1st Vice President,Dr. Ago Habu Abdurahaman
,2nd Vice Presiden, Dr. Amidu James Iye Mohammed.
Board Members;Dr. Igbinosa Emmanuel, Mohammed Bashir, Mr. Patrick Omorodion, DCI Farouk Umar Abdullahi, Brig. Gen. A.R. Bello, and others.
The NSC Chairman charged the new leadership to prioritize grassroots development, adopt an open-door policy, and ensure more athletes are drawn into cycling through sustained awareness and engagement to Nigerians.
The inauguration followed Sunday’s election, which produced a 17-member board to pilot the affairs of the Federation for the next four years.
In his remarks, during the inaguration, Dikko congratulated the new leadership and emphasized the importance of grassroots sports development in discovering and nurturing young talents.
“On behalf of the NSC and President Bola Tinubu, I congratulate you on your election, and to remind you of the national agenda to reset and refocus on the development of sports in Nigeria.
“Your mandate is clear to transform cycling into a sport that inspires youth, engages communities, and represents Nigeria proudly at international competitions,” he said.
He urged the CFN to collaborate with stakeholders, attract private sector investment, and maintain transparency in its operations.
He further assured that the Commission would not interfere in the running of any Federation but would continue to provide the necessary support for sports development.
“Cycling already has some of the best facilities. It is now important to maximize them for the benefit of Nigerians. We must also make the sport attractive to investors,” he added.
In his remarked, the CFN President, Massari, pledged to work tirelessly to expand opportunities for young cyclists across the country, stressing that his administration would be driven by strategic planning and stakeholder collaboration.
Highlighting recent milestones, Massari recalled that Nigeria has in recent years won several medals at continental level, particularly in the female category, secured World Championship qualifications in both track and road events, and made history by participating in the Olympics for the first time.
He however acknowledged the challenges facing the male category, noting that while the athletes are talented, the performance gap remains wide compared to continental rivals.
“With more dedication and investment, we will bridge the gap. For the women, we have already recorded significant milestones, including Olympic qualification,” he said.
Looking ahead, Massari announced that Nigeria has been awarded the hosting rights for the African Track Championship next year.
He added that once the Abuja velodrome is fully certified by the UCI, the country would also be positioned to host international cycling competitions beyond Africa.
The Cycling Federation of Nigeria has set ambitious goals, including hosting the African Track Championship next year and promoting cycling as a major sport in Nigeria.