Sports Minister inaugurates federation presidents, boards

... Business and Technical Workshop Session Underway

Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare Friday inaugurated the Presidents and boards of Sports Federations charging them to roll up their sleeves for the task of deepening development of Sports in Nigeria. 

The Minister while congratulating the new board executives emphasized the need for them to work as a team while restating the need to be guided by established processes, procedures and Code of Governance of National Sports Federations in the discharge of their responsibilities. “As you are aware, the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development’s core responsibilities are focused at facilitating youth and sport development through the establishment of a conducive policy environment that provides strategic support systems and sport policy implementation, amongst other functions. The Ministry coordinates the formulation and review of policies and legislation in order to provide a framework for effective implementation of youth and sports programs”, Dare reaffirmed. 

“Let me also stress that the future of the various sports is now in your hands, the career of our young athletes under your Federations is now in your hands and history will judge you how you have positively or otherwise impacted Sports in your respective governing bodies”, the Minister added. 

In line with the reclassification of sports from recreation to business as approved by President Muhammadu Buhari, the Minister revealed that a new business orientation will be pursued, tasking the board of each Federation to adopt and bring about a business approach to its operations. Dare further gave a marching order to the newly inaugurated 28 Sports Federations to within six months begin the process of formulating the Federations’ constitution in line with the dictates of various international Federations with the inputs and guidance of the Ministry to ensure domestication and operation in tandem with Nigerian laws and Sports Industry policy.

The Minister charged the board of Federations to settle down to business and avoid the acrimonious relationships that beset some associations in the past. He intimated the new Executives that a 2-day technical and business workshop for capacity building will be organized in collaboration with the Edo State Government, and held in Edo State in the coming weeks.

Moshood Abiola National Stadium wears new look

 

Football action will  soon return to the main bowl of the newly renovated Moshood Abiola National Stadium , Abuja as the pitch is now lush green  and the  scoreboard functional. 

The new -look of Stadium  was made possible by the Minister of Youth and Sports Development Mr. Sunday Dare after he made a pitch to business  mogul Alhaji Aliko Dangote who agreed  to bankrol the  rehabilitation  of the stadium.

 Prior to the intervention ,  the Moshood Abiola National Stadium had  deteriorated to the extent that the pitch had become an eye sore and the scoreboard dysfunctional.

The rehabilitation is in fulfilment of  the  mandate of the Minister  to renovate  existing   infrastructure, and develop grassroot sports.  

The adopt-a-pitch initiative  has resulted in the rehabilitation  of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, National Stadium Surulere, , Lagos and the Daura Mini stadium, Katsina State.

There are plans to  rehabilitate the Chief Obafemi Awolowo Stadium,  Ibadan, Oyo State through a private,  public partnership  model.

Signed

*Media office of the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development*