The Nigerian Government has expressed its desire to collaborate with Spain and other countries of the world in the field of sports, with a view to ensuring that her huge sporting potentials are tapped for the socio-economic growth and development of the nation.
Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Enoh made the call in his office at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja when he received the Spanish Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency, Juan Ignacio Sell.
He stated that Spain was undoubtedly a renowned country in the field of sports, especially its Football League, the Spanish LaLiga, a feat which the present administration is interested in replicating in the country.
Sports diplomacy, Minister Enoh added, has become a very potent weapon in global diplomacy and the Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration of Nigeria, having recognised Nigeria’s huge sporting potentials, created the Ministry of Sports Development with a mandate to work assiduously towards ensuring that these potentials are harvested.
The aim was to not only to enable the country join the comity of sporting nations of the world, but also provide for job creation, poverty alleviation, security and inclusiveness through women’s participation in sports.
“The potentials of sports in Nigeria is huge and the present administration intends to turn this potential to achievements,” Minister Enoh said. “And also make Nigeria become a renowned country in the field of sports.” 
The Minister, who was earlier presented with a copy of an MoU that was signed by the previous administration, assured the Spanish Ambassador of Federal Government’s determination to collaborate with other nations of the world, especially in the area of sports development.
He explained that the resolutions contained in the MoU will be looked at so as to identify areas of mutual benefit to both nations
The Spanish Ambassador to Nigeria, Juan Ignacio Sell, stated that he was in the Ministry to congratulate the Senator Enoh on his appointment and to further seek for collaboration with Nigeria in the field of sports.
According to him, Nigeria is a country that has high potentials in sports that can be harnessed and if adequately tapped, the country will join the comity of sporting nations.
He expressed the willingness of his country to collaborate with Nigeria, not only to harness its sporting potentials but also to turn them into achievements for the benefit of both countries.
