Gumel assures RENISA of support, says retired athletes deserve the best

President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Engr. Habu Gumel, has assured the Association of Retired Sports Men and Women in Nigeria (RENISA) of the Commission’s support saying those who have flown the Nigerian flag in the past deserves maximum respect and attention.

Gumel stated this while hosting RENISA’s delegation led by its President and former Nigerian athlete, Sunday Adeleye, on Thursday in Abuja.

He described RENISA as a very important body whose membership spreads across the nook and cranny of the country and even outside saying the Association will provide a recognisable platform for former athletes to be seen after retirement from sports.

The NOC boss, who said RENISA couldn’t have come at a better time, promised to provide all the necessary support for the association as he commended Adeleye and his executive for their sacrifice to see to the welfare of their retired colleagues

He said, “Let me sincerely from the bottom of my heart congratulate you for being the founding father of this most and very important association. I pray that God will continue to guide you in what you have done. There are very many members of this association in this country, millions not thousands. What you have done is something that will go a long way and continue during our time and even the next generation.

“It’s an association that will help people. Many of these retired sports men and women are suffering because when you see them you will pity them. They don’t have anything and nobody cares about them. Nobody is thinking about them.

“But with this, by the time you start making some activities and creating awareness, the private sector who have interest in sports will be able to contribute when you approach them. Such contribution will definitely create a lot of impact and help this innocent people because they served the country.”

Gumel added, “But unfortunately for one reason or the other, the country is not remembering them. But now that you’ve decided to set this up, and I’m happy that it is in the Act establishing the National Sports Commission (NSC) which means government is aware of it.

“So the government, the NOC, all organisations will rally round to make sure that you get the needed support to touch the lives of these people all over the country to make them relevant so that they are remembered for the services they’ve rendered to the country. They did well and promoted the image of the country.

“I want to assure you that we from the Nigeria Olympic Committee, will do our best. I’m happy with this your letter and definitely we’ll write a letter of commendation and not only that, any activities that you have, try as much as possible to involve us.

“Any contribution we can make within our powers, we’ll do it to the best of our ability to support the association. We are always available for you and to support you anywhere and even internationally outside the country. We can be able to introduce you to ANOCA. I must commend you for this effort, this is a sacrifice because you’re not being paid salary but just to support which is very good. Your reward will come from God and God Almighty will continue to guide you, bless you so that the association will become stronger and the generation unborn will build on the foundation you’ve laid today.”

In his remarks, Adeleye said the visit was to acquaint the NOC with the activities of RENISA as well as seek the support of the Commission going forward.

He said the Association was backed by the Act establishing the NSC and its aim was primarily to support former athletes to live a better life after their years of service to motherland. He informed the NOC president that RENISA will be having its maiden Sports Fiesta from 17th to 26th September, 2027 in Abuja where members will compete in 17 sports.

“We said it’s necessary for us to come as an association to familiarise with the NOC, to seek your guidance, blessing and support. The Association of Retired Nigerian Sports Men and Women has been in existence since 2019 under my leadership as the founder. And we’ve tried our best to reach out to supporting some of our members that are not able to meet up because we understand how the world of sports operate.

“Where we make so much or few of us make so much and at the end of the day it’s even nothing to write home about when we are retired. A good number of us miss that aspect of investment and building our future. We look at all these things where we have sports men and women that have done this country great die because of N10,000 to pay hospital bills.

“Some of us have not being able e to train our children again because we believe that once we take sports as career in Africa or Nigeria, we don’t do any other thing we just feel it’s forever but at the end of the day when the time comes to stop, there is nothing to fall back to. This affects the family and the welfare of most of our colleagues.

“That’s why we said we have to rally round ourselves because nobody is going to do it for us. We have to and we’ll do it for ourselves with the support of people like you, the NOC and of course, the Sports Commission. We’re partners in progress and here to complement your efforts. Because we know that the burden upon the NOC and the NSC is big.

“You’re thinking of grassroots, intermediary, elites and if we now heap our own problems which are bigger than the ones you are already handling, the whole system will collapse. Fortunately, we are in the Act of the National Sports Commission as a body and recognised by law which is also part of the document we are presenting to you.

“Our Sports Fiesta is coming up next year between 17th and 26th September, 2027 here in Abuja. We are going to have 17 sports for the first edition and will come with awards for people like you that have been contributing to sports and never given up on us, the sports people. We are relying on your support in terms of grants and whatever way we are going to reach out to other sources of income which we’ll also channel through the NOC.”