By Akanimo Kufre
The President of African Shooting Federation, ASF Mr. Hazem Hosny Ahmed has commended Brig. Gen. Lonsdale Adeoye rtd, president of Nigeria Shooting Federation and his board members as they partner with over 40 media organisations to promote shooting sports in Nigeria.
Mr. Ahmed made his commendation known through a congratulatory email message sent to the federation from ASF headquarters in Egypt last Thursday. The Nigeria Shooting Federation concluded her 2 day workshop for 45 media organisations on shooting reportage, activities and competition at its remodelled shooting range facility in Abuja.
Apart from the ASF Ahmed, other African countries federations and the International Shooting Sports Federation president, Mr. Olegario Rana also praised the effort of Nigeria Shooting Federation Board to impact Nigerian populace with activities of shooting sports.
According to Brig. Gen. Adeoye, shooting sports afford Nigeria opportunity to raking in lots of medals as shooting events at the Olympics.
“Shooting sports offers 36 medals in Olympic. Nigeria has 2-6 million able bodied men and young people. Shooting opportunity in Nigeria is huge. The force we have and security agency is more than 2 million so why can’t we produce gold medallist? Countries with 3 million people and less than 100 or 200 thousand soldiers are producing 2-3 gold medallists. I think it is just a joke so we are ready. Check our shooters record and world record. We are sacrificing for participation and that is why we partner with you (media) to help us. Our dream is to see shooting in the highest point in Nigeria.”
Brig. Gen. Adeoye and his board members objective is to take Nigerian Shooters to Olympic, organize Bankers Shooting bazaar, Miltary and para military bazaar. Also on plan is the Nigeria Opens Shooting competition, Nigeria Opens Shooting Para, ECOWAS Shooting Competition, Gen. Ojo Memorial Shooting competition and coming out tops at the next African Shooting Championship in Algeria. The NSF intends to organize six seminars and workshops for shooting in six geo-political zones of the federation where patrons and benefactor of the sport shall be appointed and honoured. More so, sensitize all state to prepare and participate in shooting come next national sports festival in November 2018 in Abuja.
The Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports, Bar. Solomon Dalung represented by Mr Olushade Adeshola, Permanent Secretary conferred the ministry felicitation at the successful event and commended the federation for transforming a bush and abandoned range to model edifice.
“I have had words with the president. I ask him to let us look at what we can do to improve the standard of what we have here. The proposal has to be made and when the paper work is concluded I believe this will be a good year to them. With this effort they are putting we are very hopeful that in the next international engagement shooting will be represented. The national council of sport also approve that the annual youth festival should be held and I believe shooting will be one of the sports for competition.”
Media men who took part in the shooting won medals in Air Rifle and Pistol events, accepted to partner with the shooting federation as well as appreciated the NSF for first hand experience at weapons handling and the mental fulfilment shooting sport afforded them.
At the maiden media shooting competition and workshop closing ceremony was Permanent Secretary Mr. Olushade Adeshola, of the Hon. Minister of Youths and Sports Bar. Solomon Dalung, NSF Board members, Chief Julius Orioko, Dr. Irene Patrick, Emmanuel Oludukiya, Col. E. I. Etuk , coaches and shooters of NSF.
Military presences were Air Commodore Musa Gamu rep. Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonishakin. Commodore Sulaiman Bello, rep. Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas. Lt. Col. A.C Mazeli, Capt. Friday Ture Deputy Director Training and Sports NN, Col. Mustapha Anka, Defence Headquarters, Clement Iyaluegbe, and Dr. S. E. Ehojiaye, Director Grassroot.
