Nigerian Minister Seeks Change Of Narrative In Sports Administration

By Edwin Akwueh, Abuja.

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Nigeria’s Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Enoh, has charged Presidents of different National Sports Federations to partner with the Ministry to ensure a vast improvement in the overall performance during the forthcoming African, Olympic/Paralympic Games in 2024.

Speaking during a technical meeting with presidents of the various sports federations, Senator Enoh outlined the focus of the meeting to be Each Federations roadmap, medals projection, challenges and the way forward towards podium performances at the games.

The Minister stressed that coming after the retreat with different Sports Federations in December last year, his expectation was that this technical meeting affords the ministry and the various stakeholders within the nation’s sports ecosystem the opportunity to change the narrative of the sports sector and consolidate on the gains achieved.

Senator Enoh reiterated his commitment and determination to take the nation’s sports to greater heights and sued for the cooperation of the various stakeholders.

Building on this commitment, the Sports Minister expressed his preparedness to explore all available options including holding periodic meetings with stakeholders and encouraging processes that will lead to amendments of relevant laws to ensure that sports receives the desired injection that it needs for better performance.

“Looking at where we are coming from, there is no reason we should not hold periodic meetings between the Ministry and the various sports federations,” the Sports Minister said.

“On our part, the Ministry is fully committed to ensure that these meetings take place on a periodic basis because we have a shared responsibility with the sports federations.”

The Minister, who identified funding as the greatest challenge facing sports in the country for the past 30 years, said that he would do everything within his power to surmount the problem.

He also stated that his engagement with President Bola Tinubu on the issue of adequate funding of sports strengthened his resolve and commitment to solve this problem.

Enoh commended the Ministerial Podium Performance Advisory Team led by Professor Ken Anugweje and the Presidents of the various Sports Federations, for the work they are doing in the respective federations.

The technical meeting which took place at the media centre of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium was well attended by the various presidents of national sports federations, their general secretaries and the evaluation team.

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