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Infrastructures Are Key to Sports Development”, Sunday Dare Explains Reasons For His Administration’s Infrastructure Drive

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One of the hallmarks that has added the success of Hon. Sunday Dare as Nigeria’s Youth and Sports Minister is the unprecedented revamp of sports infrastructures in the country.

Since the start of Sunday Dare’s tenure, the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja has been revived and has gone on to pass the FIFA and CAF test, as it has hosted a number of international matches. Also, the National Stadium, Surulere which was abandoned for years is on the verge of being completely turned around. Moreso, the Daura Township Stadium has been transformed for the utilization of about 45 teams in the area, after the famous ground was left to rot. The Ahmadu Bello Stadium and other facilities are also set for transformation under the wholesome plans of the ministry, led by Hon. Sunday Dare.

Speaking on this infrastructure development drive, Sunday Dare said “we came to the realization that at the heart of sports development is to have infrastructures and facilities that are befitting for such lofty ambitions. So my team and I, set out a grand plan to change the narrative on sports infrastructures in Nigeria”.

“Due to the capital-intensive nature of these projects, we engaged the private sector to see how we could leverage on public-private partnerships and we brought the private sector on board”.

One of the transformed infrastructures is the Moshood Abiola Stadium. A once abandoned edifice has now hosted the Super Eagles, the Super Falcons, the Falconets (U-20 Girls), the Flying Eagles (U-20 Boys), the Flamingoes (U-17 Girls), Golden Eaglets (U-17 Boys), as well as NPFL Matches, all in the space of one year. The stadium is also compliant with the VAR technology, modern FIFA-approved technical and players’ bench amongst others.

Answering further, the Minister said, “when we started, we visited FIFA, and at that point, we all agreed that a football nation as big as Nigeria cannot be suffering a huge gap in Infrastructures and we set out to correct this anomaly. We are not where we want to be, but we will not stop working to get as many facilities as a possibile up to scratch. We are not just upgrading our facilities, we are also putting up maintenance deals because this is the only way to guarantee their longevity”.

While this drive continues, one could posit that, in the coming years, Nigeria will be able to compete with contemporaries on its sporting infrastructures.

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

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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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