He is a man that will be remembered for his many legacies even while in office. He starts what others never thought of. In just under 3 years of his administration, Sports minister Sunday Dare has broken records and has given stakeholders too many to remember.
His staff call him Mr Record Breaker, his admirers call him Mr Achiever, his colleagues call him the pacesetter, his bosses call him the silent achiever and some others just love to call him the BRAINBOX.
Welcome to the World of Sunday Akin Dare. A man who has continued to thrive where others failed.
Today, this reporter has taken time to highlight FIVE of Sunday Dare's outstanding achievements. These are five of the best. The very best. Read along.
1. THE NATIONAL YOUTH CONFERENCE
For the very first time in the history of Nigeria youth and sports Ministry, there came a minister who has decided to create a platform for Nigeria youths to air their views, state their grievances and be heard by their leaders. On Wednesday in Abuja, Nigeria's vice president Yemi Osinbajo was special guest of honor as youths and delegates from all parts of the country converged on Abuja. The Vice president, used the ocassion of the conference to appeal to Nigeria youths to channel their energies into meaningful ventures and desist from negative vices like kidnapping, armed robbery, drug abuse and terrorism. He advised them to always see dialogue as a means of settling whatever grievances they have with government instead of indulging in violence.
2. THE NATIONAL YOUTH INVESTMENT FUND
For the very first time in the history of the youth and sports Ministry, the federal government of Nigeria approved 75billon naira for the National Youth Investment Fund. That too, is one of the landmark achievements of Chief Sunday Dare. On assumption of office in 2019, Dare said his priority us to improve the lives of Nigeria youths and he took the bold step by coming up with an initiative that allows Nigeria youths to bring up creative ideas that government will support with small loans. That way, many have started doing small businesses instead of waiting for white collar jobs.
3. NYSC SALARY INCREMENT
Yes it happened after a proposal submitted by Sunday Dare got express approval from the presidency. Before his appointment as Nigerua sports minister, Youth corpers in the country were on a monthly take home of 19,800 naira but Sunday Dare came and changed their story. Presently, the take home pay for Nigeria youth corpers is 33,000 naira monthly.
4. NIGERIA MADE HISTORY AT WORLD ATHLETICS UNDER 20 CHAMPIONSHIP
Nigeria’s U-20 track and field athletes made history at the biennial World Athletics U20 championships after finishing third on the overall medals table with an unprecedented haul of four gold and three bronze medals.
The best Nigeria had achieved on the medals table prior to the Kenya event, was her seventh-placed finish at the third edition of the championship in 1990 in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, where they won two gold, two silver and two bronze medals.
The four gold medals won at the championships in Nairobi, Kenya is the highest Nigeria has won, two more than the country has ever won in any edition of the championships.
Nigeria’s 4x400m mixed relay team began the unprecedented haul with its historic, championships record-setting performance (3:19.70CR) on the opening day of the championships.
5. INTRODUCTION OF THE ADOPT A SPORT OR AN ATHLETE INITIATIVE
4. The Sports Ministry under the leadership of Sunday Dare developed and implemented a Private Public Partnership model for sports, under the 'Adopt an Athlete' initiative about 20 athletes were adopted with some getting $10,000 and others $20,000.
Also about Two Hundred and Thirty Thousand Dollars($230,000) was raised for the men and women basketball teams under this initiative, the Ministry was also able to secure direct financial support for about 22 Nigerian athletes towards their training for the Olympics and the under 20 World championship.
These are just a few of the many brilliant achievements of the ministry under Sunday Dare. Remember that it was under this administration that the National stadium Abuja and Lagos that were left moribund for years, came back to life. Dare got the private sector to begin work and as at last week, the Moshood Abiola stadium in Abuja is almost 96% completed and that of Lagos is undergoing steady progress. He also introduced a special trust fund to help retired Nigeria sports men and women.
In the years to come, the story of Nigeria youth and sports development when told, will not be complete without a mention of this Oyo state born administrator who came, saw and has conquered where his predecessors failed.
