Mustapha Berraf, President of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa, ANOCA paid a courtesy call on the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare at his office on Tuesday in preparation for the visit of the International Olympic Committee, IOC President Thomas Bach in November, 2019.
Engr Habu Gumel, President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, NOC and Treasurer of ANOCA while introducing the the ANOCA President to the Honourable Minister hinted that this visit is very important to Nigeria at this period because primarily, they are looking at the visit of the IOC President to Nigeria and all that it entails.
While welcoming the ANOCA President, Mr Sunday Dare, Minister of Youth and Sports thanked the NOC for bringing the ANOCA team for this great visit, saying there is no better place for ANOCA Headquarters if not Nigeria having won the bid 10 years ago in a keenly contested election in Kenya.
Dare stated that the IOC President’s visit will be a big event for Nigeria as a nation as over 50 Presidents will be part of his protocol. Meaning Nigeria, will be looking forward to hosting a mini olympics before the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, and aside that, Nigeria’s focus will be to complete the ANOCA secretariat before the date.
Also, Nigeria will build on this visit as the country’s Olympic dream is alive and seeks ANOCA’s support to build capacity, training and other programmes to enhance the development of our youths, the minister concluded.
Mustapha Berraf, in his remarks expressed his delight for the warmth reception he was accorded since his arrival in Nigeria. He stated that the visit of the IOC President in the season of the Tokyo Olympic is an event of world Sports, in relation to the government in the support of the creation of ANOCA and that ANOCA is happy with Nigeria’s dynamism as the event is supported by the opinion of all.
Speaking further, Berraf said the ANOCA Headquarters in Abuja has numerous advantages in the economic, sports and social life and it has hosted so many visitors and events, thereby Abuja has become the capital of Sports and Olympics in Africa.
As part of the protocol team of the ANOCA President were the Secretary General of ANOCA, Ahmed Hashim; Ahmed Benamar; NOC PRO, Phemmy Adetula, Emmanuel Nweri of NOC, amongst others.
