The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has entered into a partnership with Ratels Sports Development Foundation a private investment firm geared towards harnessing the potential of students in the area of sport development and management in the territory.
While signing the Memorandum of Understanding between the FCT Administration and the Foundation at the annual School Sports Festival in Abuja, the Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Mr Olusade Adesola expressed happiness over the partnership, saying that the funding of sports without the involvement of the private sector is not viable.
He noted that the involvement of the private sector in the funding of sports activities has become a trend and Nigeria will not be an exemption.
“When I was in Youth and Sports“, said Adesola “during some of our sports participation abroad, I observed that some of the officials that come from different countries are not government officials, some are from private sectors hired by those countries.
“So I suggested this to my Minister at the Youth and Sports then and it was approved. That was why, when I saw your proposal I was happy about this partnership because the government can not fund sports alone.”
Catching them young
The President and founder, of Ratels Sports Development Foundation, Mr Paul Edeh said that the importance of sports development in schools can not be overemphasized.
He said that the best place to catch and groom young stars early through regular sports activities is in the school.
“Today, history is being made as this would be the first time a program of this kind would be conceptualized to host schools festival with the private sector for an initial period of 5 years which will guarantee the sustainability and consistency of the programme.
“Our approach to this partnership is not limited to hosting the FCT Schools Sports Festival alone but to groom, monitor, mentor and nurture the talents discovered during the festival.
“The target for the FCT Schools Sports Festival is boys and girls in primary, junior and senior secondary schools in the FCT. The event would accommodate the following sporting activities in both male and female categories such as football, basketball, volleyball, athletics, table tennis, badminton, javelin, chess, amongst others.
Earlier, the Secretary, FCT Education Secretariat, Sani Dahir El- Katuzu disclosed that sports have an important role in achieving the health targets of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, particularly the goal of increasing physical activities by 15 per cent over the next decade.
“This MOU is to impact our students’ education and health, promote tolerance, discipline and respect as it will help empower our boys and girls.”
Emmanuel Ukoh
