Sports minister canvases review of physical education curriculum

Nigerian tertiary institutions have been urged to review and update the curriculum for the training of physical health educators towards harnessing the entrepreneurial opportunities in sports.

Sports Minister Sunday Dare made the appeal during the 50th National Conference of National Association for Physical, Health Education, Recreation, Sports and Dance (NAPHER-SD) in Zaria.

Dare, represented by Prof. Olawale Moronkola, Director-General, National Institute for Sports, said the intent of the policy was to turn sport into a vehicle for empowerment, development and growth through sports industrialisation agenda.

He, therefore, described sports as a big-time business with many entrepreneurial opportunities to explore in the areas of selling and marketing of (products, rights and services) and running gym/fitness centres.

Other areas include sports media, sports equipment manufacturing, sport clubs and consultancy services, among others.

The minister, who restated the commitment of the government to provide an enabling environment, urged tertiary institutions to tailor their curriculum in line with new trends in the sector.

He said the draft National Sports Industry Policy developed by the ministry in collaboration with Nigeria Economic Summit Group has re-classified sports from recreation to business.

The conference was titled: “Business potentials and tapping in the profession of physical, health education recreation, sports and dance’’.