Sports

FG Inaugurates National Sports As Business Policy Technical Committee

Published

2 years ago

March 28, 2023

Joel Ajayi

The Federal Government has inaugurated a 10 man National Sports as Business Policy Technical Committee to draw up the details of the incentives that will be in the National Sports as Business Policy.

While inaugurating the Committee in his Office on Tuesday in Abuja , the Honourable Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Mr Sunday Dare stated that the first ever National Sports Industry Policy approved by the President in Council in November 2, 2022, is aimed at moving Sports in Nigeria from recreation to Business.

The Committee which is to be coordinated by the Minister of Finance, Mrs Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed was charged with the responsibility of working out the modalities for the successful transition of Sports from recreation to Business in the country.

According to him, “For over 3 years now, the Ministry has been at work reviewing past sports policies and also dealing with the weaknesses therein. The major weakness was that Sports was just categorized as recreation and service, it was not a business and therefore placed financial burden on the Federal government”.

He stated further that the Ministry has in line with global practice decided to look at Sports as Business to enable the Industry also contribute to the Gross Domestic Product of the nation.

“Looking at about 10 countries that dominate the world of global sports, the Ministry decided to look at Sports as Business, which if handled appropriately, can among others, contribute to the annual GDP of the country, provide employment for about 2 to 5 million youth, grants, other necessary supports as well as scholarships for athletes”, he stressed.

Dare who explained that investment, incentives and infrastructure are the three things that drive Sports as business, funded both by government and private sector, added that the policy is in line with the orientation of government which under the current National Development Plan 2021 to 2025 is based on 70% of funds from the private sector and 30% from government with rebate on tax.

Earlier in his Opening remarks, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar called on private individuals as well as stakeholders to key into the new policy with a view to taking sports to greater heights.

While commending the laudable innovations of the Honourable Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Mr. Sunday Dare, Alh. Ismaila Abubakar thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for granting approval to the Policy and called on the Committee to put in their best towards the success of the Policy.

Responding on behalf of the Committee, the representative of the Federal Ministry of Finance and National Planning, Dr Ladan Haruna assured that the Committee will bring their wealth of experience to bear in ensuring the success of the Policy.

He commended the Honourable Minister, Mr Sunday Dare for the initiative, adding that if properly harnessed, it will boost the sports industry, thus impacting positively on every sector of the economy.

Members of the Technical Committee are: Dr Ladan Haruna, Mrs Chinedu Louisa Okeke, Dominic Akuboh, Mrs Tabitha Dagyol, and Dr Ikenna Nwosu. Others are, Amaechi Akawo, Bamiduro Olumide, Chasing Madumumere, Rep. of CBN, as well as Rep of Customs and Excise.

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Sports

NSC DG Bukola Olopade reaffirms the commitment of the Commission to Training and Retraining of Staff for Scientific Productivity

Published

36 mins ago

February 4, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Director General of the National Sports Commission Hon. Bukola Olopade, has stated the commitment of the leadership of the Commission to Training and Retraining of staff for scientific productivity of Nigerian Sports.

The DG stated this when he was a surprised guest at the meeting of the newly appointed Federation Secretaries with the Director of the Federation of Elite Athletes Department (FEAD), Olumide Bamiduro.

” One of the things that myself and the Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, discovered was lacking in the Commission when we were appointed is training and restraining of staff. This is why we have challenged the various Directors to go to their various departments to start looking for quality brains that we can give both local and international training and restraining to”.

” The Sports ecosystem that we are in is very dynamic and this is why alot of training and retraining will happen this year to complement the productivity and efficiency of the Commission”.

The DG also charged the Federation Secretaries to be up and doing and align themselves with the vision and mandate of the Commission especially with the Renewed Hope Initiative for Nigeria Sports Economy ( RHINSE ) campaign.

” As Federation Secretaries that you all are , we are about to make history together in so many ways. For the Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko and myself, our determination is to ensure that you all are given the impetus to drive the federations as Independently as you can”.

” I also want to appeal to you all that the chief operating officers,COO, that we have introduced are not here to disturb you or usurp your job. They are here to support you and I have no doubt that the symbiotic relationship that you can establish with them will only galvanize the history making approach we all have for the Commission”.

The Director of Federation of Elite Athletes Development (FEAD) , Olumide Bamiduro however thanked the DG for the surprise visit , stating that his visit further re-echoes the ongoing reforms and the commitment of the current leadership of the Sports Commission to achieve the Sporting mandate of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,GCFR.

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