Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, has recounted the vital role of women in Nigerian sports, praising their achievements and reaffirming the government’s commitment to their development.

Speaking at the 7th edition of the Fame International Women’s Day (IWD) Football Tournament in Abuja at Area 3 on Friday, Dikko emphasized the importance of sports in celebrating women and fostering national unity.

“We are quite excited and happy to be here. Sports is a national asset that brings women from every corner of society together. For us in sports, we are very passionate about our women because they continue to bring us glory,” Dikko stated.

He stressed the significant contributions of Nigerian women in various sports, noting that the country’s first Olympic gold medal was won by a woman, while the national women’s teams, including the D’Tigress and Super Falcons, have outperformed their male counterparts on several fronts.

“Our D’Tigress have been outstanding in basketball, doing more than the men. The Super Falcons have won more titles and qualified for the World Cup more times than the Super Eagles. Women are very critical to our success, and we must celebrate them,” he added.

Dikko also commended the Fame Foundation for its efforts in sports development, pledging continued support for its initiatives.

“We have always been part of Fame Foundation’s journey, congratulating them for their work and supporting them to expand their reach,” he said.

He further reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to delivering on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision for sports, citing recent successes in wrestling and para-badminton as proof of Nigeria’s growing dominance in women’s sports.

“The women's Para Badminton team has been exceptional at the Spain International Tournament, breaking records. The Wrestling and the Flamingos are also giving us good representations. We don’t joke with our women because they always step up to bring us pride,” Dikko concluded.

The Fame International Women’s Day Football Tournament continues to be a platform for promoting gender equality through sports, drawing participation from teams and stakeholders across the country.