Sports

Sports Minister wants States to Tap Into Sports Industry Policy

Published

3 years ago

July 11, 2021

Joel Ajayi

The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare has called on state governments to identify specialized areas they can key into in the Sports Industry Policy which will soon be ready.

The Minister made this assertion during a courtesy visit to the Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri after watching Team Nigeria wrestling final preparations for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Mr. Dare commended Bayelsa state giant strides in establishing itself as the Wrestling capital of Nigeria.

“When I visited the new gym being constructed, I took time to look at the plans and was excited that it met international standards. It shows a government with foresight and committed to sports development.

“In the last 20 months we have devoted our time largely into turning sports into an industry. Sports has been mere recreation in our country. when you look at all successful nations that have successful sports development, it is because they run sports as business.

“In another few days, we should be able to deliver for this country its first ever Sports Industry Policy. One of the middle pillars of that policy is infrastructure, the entire policies predicated on three “I”s. The first I is infrastructure. We must have infrastructural rationalization. So when I see a multi-purpose hall being built for wrestling, I see a state dedicated to a particular sport like you see in other developed nations I know Bayelsa is on the right path and will hold it as a model for other states who want to make sports business.

“I talked about three “I”s, the second I is incentive. There can be no sports development without the provision of incentives especially to the athletes but also to the organised private sector. The third I is investment.

“Both government and the private sector must invest collectively in building sports. We hope that when that is delivered, we would have built in components for the federal government, state governments and the local governments. But I think the most important leg that we have is the assembly of commissioners of youth and sports development who will work with us at the Federal level to agree on a blueprint that can be cascaded down to the states so that we are singing from the same hymn book.

“We hope at that point each state will look at the best sports in which it is heavily talented. That’s the kind of sports development we want to berth and once we deliver that blueprint, we believe that successive administrations and Ministers of sports will work with it and will run with it this time,” the Minister assured.

Bayelsa state governor represented by the Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo disclosed that the state had identified its sporting potential and is focused on combat sports and swimming.

He disclosed that the state was enlightening athletes to compete clean by abstaining from banned substances

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Sports

Newly appointed Youth Ambassador hails president Tinubu on appointment of Dikko, Zulu, others

Published

3 days ago

December 18, 2024

The Gleamer

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has once again got a pat in the back for appointing qualified individuals to administer the sports sector.

Newly appointed Ambassador of the Grassroot Sports Development, Prince Ezelekhae Ewuare, gave this commendation on Wednesday during a courtesy visit on the National Sports Commission (NSC) in Abuja.

Ezelekhae, who expressed gratitude to the leadership of the NSC for appointing as Youth Ambasador, said the appoitments made by the President were highly commendable.

“I will like to express my profound gratitude to rhe chairman, National Sports Commission (NSC, and to those who have entrusted me with this ambassadorial role, and most importantly, the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for appoiting these remarkable individuals to servei in the sport commission”.

He stated that the honour bestowed on him was beyond himself, but a testaement amd recognition of the enduring legacy of the Benin Kingdom, its culture, its committment to uplifting the next generation.

Ezelekhae added that his misson as the Youth Ambassador, is to inspire and empower and to connect with the Nigerian youth in various communities, adding that grassroot sport is more than games.

“My vision is to make that every Nigerian child, regardless of background, has acccess to quality sport programmes, mentorship and opportunities to showcase their talents on local and global stages”.

He however sought collaboration and investment, saying that the vision can not be achieved alone.

Pledging his commitment to his role, he said. ” I will work imoeratively with the sport commision, to promote initiatives that will develop young talent to foster unity and make sport an instrument for national progress, “.

In his words, NSC chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko thanked Ezelekhae for acceting the role, stressing that it aligns with the vision of president Bola Ahmed Tinubu who is very committed and excoted to see that grassroot sport development is taking to the next level.

“For this reason, Mr President appointed a Senior Special Assistant , who I’m happy to have hear, Zulu, a rooted grassroot man”.

Speaking at the event, the SSA to the President on Grassroot Sport Development, Chief Adeyinka Adeboye expreseed happiness at the emergence of a different sport sector.

“This time around, we are trying to make happy all our sleeping babies, all our younger ones, to come out enmass and embrace sports, the key to the unity in this country.

He expressed appreciation to the NSC boss for bringing them together as a way of moving sports forward.

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