Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, on Wednesday, listed the gale of reforms he has initiated and some of the challenges impeding the development and growth of sports in the country.
Delivering a keynote address at the 1st National Council on Sports meeting in Enugu, the minister stated that in spite of the myriad of problems he met on ground following his appointment as minister, he has initiated a raft of reforms and policies in his concerted effort and commitment to launch sports on the path of development.
According to Senator Owan Enoh, having aggregated the problems and challenges that continue to hinder the development of sports, he launched WAIFAR, a 6-Point Agenda which he envisioned to champion the welfare of athletes, adopt sports as a business, activate Early-age sports and to reposition the Sports Federations for impact.
He said: "Over the past months, I have traversed the length and breadth of Nigeria listening to everyone. We have embarked on reforms that would reposition Nigerian sports globally and return us to our erstwhile greatness and also give our sports men and women that single thing they have sought for years - that Nigeria loves and cares for them as much as they love and care for Nigeria."
In addition to the ongoing implementation of these reforms, the minister underscored ground-breaking partnerships the Ministry of Sports Development has forged with the private sector.
Under his guidance and leadership, he said the Ministry of Sports Development signed an agreement with Yanga Games Technologies (YGT), a private sector company to help Nigerian sports raise N35 billion over the next four years to augment budgetary allocations from the Federal government; struck an MOU with Effa Management Ltd to help create facility clusters in the six geopolitical zones and an agreement with GTI to reintroduce and revamp the competition formerly known as the Challenge Cup, now to be known as The President Federation Cup, among others.
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Harping on the impact of sports on the the Socio-Economic development of the country, Senator John Owan Enoh noted that substantial investment in sports infrastructure, talent development and grassroots programmes will not only nurture athletic excellence but stimulate local economies, create employment opportunities and promote healthier lifestyles.
He called on the Council to focus on some key priorities in the course of its deliberations in order to harness the potential of Sports for National Development.
The key priorities,, according to him include leveraging sports to bridge divides and strengthen the bonds of unity among citizens, the empowerment of local communities through sports initiatives to identify and nurture talents, the enhancement of sports infrastructure nationwide, strategic investments in sports for significant Socio-Economic dividends, youth empowerment and development, international partnerships, Private-Public Partnerships and inclusivity and accessibility.
The minister thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the support he has continued to provide for sports development in the country.
"Recently, as you would recall, Mr. President approved the sum of N12 billion naira intervention for football that enabled participation at AFCON and other competitions in addition to settling outstanding backlogs. From my several interactions with His Excellency, Mr. President, I want to assure you all that the best days for sports in Nigeria lie ahead of us", he said.