Sports
“Development of Sports and Sports for Development” – Minister John Enoh States His Administration’s Two-Fold Focus
Minister of Sports Development, John Enoh has stated that his administration will pursue a two-fold focus, as part of the plans to reposition sports in the country.
Speaking to stakeholders in Lagos, Enoh said the two-fold focus rests on sports development and sports for development as a way of harnessing the potential of sports for Nigeria.
He explained that the first prong of sports development will take grassroots development as a special sub-focus where the country will focus on providing a platform for budding and raw talents to be unearthed for refinement.
Enoh said, “Grassroots development will focus on the extent to which as a ministry and a country, we are able to provide the infrastructure and amenities at the grassroots level, where our talents are located.”
“We have untapped talents in our local areas, individuals that do not have the opportunity to showcase themselves. We must provide pitches, and courts that will expose these talents in areas that are neglected.”
“We don’t want to just say it, but we want to take practical steps, that at the end of my tenure, we have measurable impacts of our work,”, he added.
Expatiating further he said grassroots development also entails establishing and running leagues across different sports at the youth level. School sports and underaged competitions are important to this plan.
Furthermore, he said, “We must also provide a transition plan for our discovered talents to move from the youth level to the elite level.”
Second Focus: Sports for Development
Senator John Enoh said sports should not be developed just for the sake of it, but the concern should also extend to ensuring sports contribute to the nation’s economic development.
“The National Bureau of Statistics has no place for sports as a contributor to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). One of the things I will do is engage with the NBS to evaluate some of the factors that are considered in identifying a sector as a contributor to national GDP. And these things will be pursued.”
“The National Sports Industry Policy which I met focuses on treating sports as a business. This is one of the things we will pursue. We will pursue to see how we can tap sports contribution to national unity and national integration. No sector showcases our national colors (green and white) as much as sports do,” he added.
“In my experience of watching Tennis, a guy like Novak Djokovic has placed Serbia on the world map by his appearances at every grand slam. This is something we can emulate and do in our country.”
He charged the media to support his plans and play a key role in sports development. He called for fair reportage and a sense of patriotism to be placed above anything else
Sports
From Streets to Stardom: Unique Futbol Academy Scouting Program Inspires Ibadan’s Young Footballers
Ibadan is buzzing with excitement as the Unique Football Academy Scouting Program kicks off, bringing together top European football clubs and talented young Nigerian players.
The four-day program, which commenced on Monday, features a delegation of four directors from prominent European teams, including two from Kosovo and one from India, led by renowned football agent Diego Martins from Portugal.
The scouting program aims to identify and select outstanding players who will be given opportunities to showcase their skills in Europe.
Successful players will be offered the chance to take their careers to the next level, with the organizers assuring them of opportunities abroad.
According to the Director of the program and founder of Unique Football Academy, Mr. Jelil Oladimeji, this is not the first time the academy has organized such an event.
“This is the 4th edition, and we are proud of the progress and impact we have made so far in terms of exposing our raw talent to the European market,” he said.
The program has already proven successful, with several players from previous editions going on to excel in European leagues. Some notable examples include Haruna Saleh with PAOK in Greece and Praisegod Emersons in Slovakia.
As the program continues, clubs are gearing up to exhibit their talents, and the future looks bright for Nigeria’s young football stars.
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