By Arinzechi Chukwunonso
The President of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF), Engineer Musa Nimrod, has no interest in contesting for the presidency of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), according to the federation’s Special Assistant to the President, Dare Kuti.
Kuti made the clarification in response to comments by former Gombe Athletics Association official, Gara Gombe, who had called for Nimrod to contest the NOC presidency.
The sports journalist said Nimrod had no intention of seeking the position, urging that the record be set straight.
“My attention has been drawn to an interview credited to Gara Gombe, where he is positioning the President of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation for the NOC presidency. Let it be on record that Engineer Nimrod has no intention of running,” Kuti said.
Kuti also praised NOC President Engineer Habu Gumel, describing him as a major pillar of Nigerian sports and a key figure in the development of volleyball on the continent.
He noted that Gumel played a significant role in Nimrod’s emergence as President of the CAVB Beach Volleyball Commission, while also contributing to the growth of the Volleyball Premier League through a sponsorship partnership with the Nigeria Customs Service.
According to Kuti, Gumel was equally instrumental in facilitating the arrival of the national volleyball team’s foreign technical adviser, Ryan Masajedi.
“Whenever the Nigeria Volleyball Federation runs into a visa crisis, the President of the NOC always comes to our rescue,” he added.
Kuti, who is also a member of the CAVB Zone 3 Media Committee, advised Gara Gombe to concentrate on his grassroots sports development programmes and continue identifying young talents for Gombe State, as he has done at the National Youth Games and National Sports Festival.
The clarification effectively puts to rest speculation linking Nimrod with a possible bid for the NOC presidency.
