Business Post Contributor
By Precious Olisa
The era of Nigerian athletes being treated by beggars may soon be over if the assurance given by the federal government is to be taken seriously.
Earlier this week, the Minister of Sports Development, Mr John Enoh, during an interactive session with the Presidents and Secretaries of National Sports Federations, said efforts are being made to prioritise the welfare of athletes in the country.
For several years, those who represent the country in different sporting activities across the globe have been abandoned even before and after tournaments, resulting in some of them switching allegiance to another country ready to cater to them.
But Mr Enoh has promised that this would soon become a thing of the past, as the government, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, was ready to improve the sports sector through his Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to the Minister, there are plans to implement the strategic plan designed by the previous government to upgrade sports infrastructure in the country.
He informed heads of the sporting associations at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja that the government would expand and improve the School Sports Games of the National Sports Industry Policy (NSIP) to discover more talents at a younger age.
He explained that the aim of this is to make Nigerian athletes more competitive on the local and international stage, while also ensuring their wellbeing.
The Minister disclosed that the government also plans to work closely with relevant stakeholders, including sports federations and private sector partners, to achieve the objectives of the plan.
In his remarks, the Director of Dream Sports Africa, Mr Micheal Anejo, thanked the Minister for the meeting, assuring him of his organisation’s support for the government’s programmes.
