Joel Ajayi

The Honourable Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh has met and brainstormed with the Top Management Staff of his Ministry wherein he presented a draft copy of a new vision for Nigerian Sports (2023-2027) for a critical review and subsequent adoption for full implementation with a view to rebranding the nation’s sports profile, improve its value proposition map so as to make it fit into templates on which the future of sports shall depend in the country.

The interactive session, which was held today in his office at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Abuja, was part of the activities marking his one hundred days in office.

 Senator Owan Enoh informed the Management that the capacity of sports to transform and improve the physical, psychological, emotional, and social wellbeing of individuals and the significant role that it plays in cultures and communities around the world are enough to justify huge investments in the sector.

He stated that the new vision of the Federal Ministry of Sports Development under his watch is to establish a thriving sports industry that will contribute about 5-7 percent to the National Gross Domestic Product (GDP) with an annual net evaluation of about 3 to 4 billion dollars by 2027.

The Minister said I envision the enablement of a multi-trillion naira sports industry that promotes excellence in sports and fosters talent development.

Senator Owan Enoh explained that, although the development community had marginalized sports, he aligned himself with the unfolding international movement which recognizes that sports do not have to compete with other development priorities but can instead, be a powerful means for addressing them.

What was needed to surmount the challenges facing sports in Nigeria, the Minister added, is the right strategy to set it in the right direction.

He observed that going by contemporary global realities, sports is a sector that transcends mere recreation to a business where private sector investors can commit their resources and make outstanding profits.

This, he said, was one of the reasons why the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Administration in its Renewed Hope Agenda endorsed the National Sports Industry Policy (NSIP) approved by the immediate past administration which classified sports as a business and not just a mere recreation as well as created a separate Ministry of Sports Development to holistically drive the sector with a view to providing job opportunities for our teeming youth, alleviate poverty amongst them and also ensure a peaceful and safe environment for the development of the nation.

Senator Owan Enoh

stated that one of the key stakeholders that will ensure the realization of this policy objective of government is the seasoned technocrats in the Ministry  who he said over the years, made valuable contributions in the implementation of the policies, programs, and initiatives of the government.

He  also noted that sustained increase in private and corporate sector participation in various sectors of

Nigeria’s economy makes it one of the fastest growing aspects of the global economy of which the most unifying sector in the world which he said is sports, if given the needed attention and recognition, will assuage the current economic challenges facing the country.

He assured that the Ministry will continue to create an enabling environment for the development of sports in Nigeria, adding that under his stewardship, the Ministry will identify and activate an enabling welfare system that will cater to serving and retired athletes, activate the sports business industry as well as funding of sports development as some of the focus areas of the Ministry.

The Minister, therefore, called on the Ministry’s Management Staff to bring in their wealth of experience and expertise to bear in ensuring that the new vision for Nigerian Sports Development is not only fully implemented but also provides the desired objectives of the present administration.

Speaking earlier, the Permanent Secretary overseeing the Federal Ministries of Sports and Youth Development Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar assured that the Management will not only support the Honourable Minister of Sports Development Senator John Owan Enoh in his efforts towards repositioning the sector for the benefit of the Nigerian economy and our teeming youth but also ensure the full implementation of the new vision in line with the policy thrust of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Administration.

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