Anako Resumes as Sports Ministry’s Permanent Secretary

By Adedapo Adesanya

Mr Nebeolisa Anako has assumed office as the new Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development following the exit of Mr Gabriel Aduda.

He is taking over the mantle of leadership as Mr Aduda, who spent one year in office as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, bowed out on Wednesday.

Speaking at the event, Mr Aduda thanked all staff for the cooperation and explained that he enjoyed working with the Management Team of the Ministry.

He lauded the dynamic and innovative under the Minister, Mr Sunday Dare, whose leadership he explained had piloted the affairs of the Ministry to enviable heights.

The outgoing permanent secretary said it was a privilege to have worked on initiatives and programmes like adoption- athlete programme, Digital Literacy and Skills Acquisition, Entrepreneurship, Employment, Leadership and Mentoring programme (D.E.E.L), Nigeria Youth Investment Fund (NYIF), COVID-19 Stimulus Fund among others.

Mr Aduda urged the Youth and Sports family to equally extend the hand of fellowship and support given to him during his stay in the Ministry to the new Permanent Secretary in order to further consolidate on previous achievements towards actualising the mandate and vision of President Muhammadu Buhari for the teeming Nigerian youth.

While receiving the hand-over documents to kick-start the beginning of a new era, the incoming Permanent Secretary, Mr Anako thanked the outgoing Permanent Secretary for piloting the administrative function of the Ministry effectively under the leadership of Mr Dare.

In his remarks, he stated that ‘’the only thing permanent in life is change, stressing that change should be embraced in order to confront the new challenges of work that awaits us as a people’’.

Mr Anako described the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development as a key ministry especially as the country is moving to the post-COVID-19 era of growing our economy and social life, adding that the teeming population of our youths must be engaged in activities that will give them a sense of belonging in the country.

He enjoined management staff to extend the cooperation and good working relationship with his predecessor to him, nothing that he will be open to new and innovative ideas geared towards moving the Ministry forward in the interest of the service.