Joel Ajayi
In a move underscoring the intersection of sport, discipline and national service, the President of the Nigeria Shooting Sport Federation, NSSF, Commodore Mohammed Sagir Shettima, today(Wednesday), led members of the NSSF Board on a high-level courtesy visit to Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja.
In a statement issued by the
Director of Media & Communication,
NSSF Eche Amos
According to the NSSF President, the visit to the Nigeria’s top military leadership was to formalize pathways for collaboration and institutional partnerships aimed at accelerating the development of shooting sports across divides, and broadening access for active service personnel, veterans, and wounded servicemen and women to structured shooting sport programmes.
“We decided to embark on this deliberate campaign to propagate shooting sport in Nigeria, and the Nigerian Military is the best place to advertise the sport, more so that I am from the Military, and shooting is part of the military ecosystem.
“The NSSF is the only arms-bearing Sport Federation under the National Sports Commission where permissions and certification are granted for the use of small calibre weapons like the 12-gauge or pump action guns, Points 2.2 and 3.2 pistols and Air Rifles and Air Pistols, Short Guns. These weapons are mostly certified for gaming and shooting sport competitions.
“Unfortunately, we don’t have active participation of the Military at certain national and global sport competitions, like the Olympics or African Games, whereas Para-military Agencies like the Department of State Services, DSS, partake.
“We are here to introduce shooting sport to you with the hope that it would go a long way in improving the proficiency of the armed forces and create a welfare avenue for retiring personnel in the service, thereby adding value to the sports in Nigeria.”
Commodore Shettima articulated that Shooting Sport is both a competitive discipline and a rehabilitative and reintegration platform, adding that the NSSF which has been in existence since 1976 in Nigeria, is affiliated to the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Association of African Shooting Sport Federation (ASSF), International Shooting Sport Federation(ISSF), Conseil International du Sport Militair(CISM), and Organisation de Sport Militaire en Afrique(OSMA), and has been participating in series of shooting sport activities, both domestically and internationally.
The Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, represented by Major General Umar Gittal Yusuf, received the delegation with commendation, acknowledging the NSSF’s role in professionalizing the sport and engendering values of accuracy, composure and accountability.
“Thank you for the visit and commitment towards the development of shooting sport in Nigeria despite the inherent challenges.
“The COAS just left here to attend to a pressing national issue, but he has delegated me to receive you on his behalf and deliver his message also.
“The Nigerian Army will continue to support programmes and activities that promote national cohesion, peaceful co-existence and youth empowerment.
“Shooting isn’t only a recreational sport, but a highly technical and strategic sport that develops mental alertness, emotional stability, discipline, focus, and responsible weapon handling, thus aligning with the core ethics and ethos as well as the modus operandi of the Nigerian Army, and we recognize the efforts of the NSSF in nurturing talent capable of representing Nigeria creditably at continental and international sports meets.”
While urging the Commodore Shettima-led NSSF Board to explore the possibility of collaboration with the Directorate of Army Physical Training in the training of coaches and officiating officials, the COAS expressed the Nigerian Army’s readiness to collaborate with the NSSF to strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness in shooting sport at all levels.
Some NSSF Board Members lauded the the meeting, describing it as a watershed moment for the Federation, noting that the partnership with the Nigerian Army lends credibility, structure, and reach to grassroots and elite shooting initiatives.
Highpoints of the visit were presentations of souvenirs and photographs.
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