The chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, has called for stronger collaboration with the Nigeria Shooting Sport Federation (NSSF) to enhance the development of shooting sports nationwide.

Mr Dikko made the call when NSSF President Mohammed Shettima led the federation’s board on a courtesy visit to his office at Moshood Abiola National Stadium on Friday in Abuja.

He emphasised that the commission remained committed to supporting sports federations that develop their disciplines and create opportunities for Nigerian athletes to excel both nationally and internationally.

“Partnerships like this are essential if we are to expand sports development and improve Nigeria’s performance in international competitions,” Mr Dikko said, commending NSSF leadership for their efforts in promoting shooting sports.

Mr Shettima explained that the visit aimed to strengthen collaboration with the NSC and gain deeper insight into the commission’s mandate, ensuring alignment of federation programmes with national sports development objectives.

“This visit is to foster collaboration and mutual growth between the federation and the commission.

“We want to build a stronger understanding of its mandate to align our programmes effectively,” he said.

He added that the federation was focused on talent identification and increasing grassroots participation to grow shooting sports, ensuring a pipeline of skilled athletes for national and global competitions.

“Our goal is to expand grassroots participation, identify talents early, and provide the support needed for our athletes to succeed on the global stage,” Mr Shettima added.

(NAN)