Sports
Sports minister receives Edo 2020 national sports festival report

The Federal Government, on Tuesday, received the Edo 2020 National Sports Festival report from the Local Organising Committee (LOC).
Director press and Public Relations
Muhammed Mangal in a press statemen the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare, received the report in his office at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Abuja.
He quoted the minister to have assured that government will look into the recommendations contained in the documents, with a view to adopting possible areas of collaboration with the State.
Dare commended the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) and Edo State Government in particular, for investing so much towards the successful hosting of the Sports Festival, inspite of the COVID-19 Pandemic, stating further that the Ministry will do everything humanly possible to ensure that the State is supported within the limited resources.
He said that the report received is a significant and pioneering event that has never happened before.
“This is the first of its kind; for a host State to officially submit the Report of the LOC of the Festival to the Ministry, as such, it is commendable. I hope that the subsequent hosts will emulate the good gesture from Edo 2020 LOC,” Dare said.
The Minister explained that with this performance, the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development is indeed grateful to the Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and the good people of the State for their hospitality and the tremendous effort which culminated in making the event a huge success.
While thanking the Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC), Comrade Phillip Shaibu, for his doggedness in the organization and management of facilities and the resources at his disposal, Dare assured that the report will be looked into critically and the recommendations considered accordingly.
Mr. Dare commended Comrade Shaibu for recognizing and supporting the “Adopt an Athlete initiative” of the Ministry, as he was the first to adopt an athlete, adding that “it was a pilot attempt towards the Olympic Games, and the impact was felt.
He reiterated that the partnership between the Ministry and Edo State is a dynamic one and will continue.
Earlier in his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar expressed his sincere appreciation to Edo State Government for accepting to host the Festival at a time the country was in the woods, demonstrating their love for the Nation.
He stressed that Sports is no longer an entertainment as it creates jobs, taking the Youth away from the streets.
While presenting the report to the Minister, the Chairman, Edo 2020 Local Organizing Committee (LOC), Comrade Phillip Shaibu thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for granting the State the opportunity to host the Festival, and giving it an insight of what hosting a Sports Festival looks like.
The hosting of the Sports Festival, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic Shaibu said, was not only a trial and setback for the State, but it also provided for more commitment towards hosting the Tournament.
“The COVID-19 was a setback, but the State had the tournament, that during and after, recorded no single spark of COVID-19, a report which helped the World Olympic Committee in their decision towards the hosting of Tokyo 2020 Olympics,” he stated.
Sports
NYG 2023: Tinubu charges participants to compete fairly in the spirit of unity

The President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on participants in the country to ensure they compete fairly in the spirit of Unity of the nation.
He gave the charge today when he declared open the 7th edition of the National Youth Games holding in Asaba, the Delta State Capital.

A statement byDirector of Press and Public Relations Mohammed Manga quoted the President to have stated that the aim of the games which was conceived in 2013 was to reposition sports at the grassroots level and to facilitate the discovery of budding talents in the country.
Represented by the Honourable Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, the President explained further that National Youth Games serves as an effective platform for talent identification and development.
He said provides a level playing ground for young athletes to achieve excellence in sports and not necessarily to compete for the purpose of winning medals alone.
He explained that the Games was designed not only to enhance and elevate sports globally and regionally, but also to establish a standard for athletes’ succession from one generation to another and enable for athletes participation in their community development as well as reinvigorate national unity and collaboration amongst them.

President Tinubu indicated that his administration is committed to the development of sports in the country and that was why he specifically created the Ministry of Sports Development and assigned a colossus administrator, Senator John Owan Enoh to drive its affairs, in line with the policy thrust of government.
The aim he added, is to ensure that sports move from mere recreation to job creation, thereby providing opportunities for poverty reduction amongst our youth, both male and female through government’s agenda of inclusiveness thus, improving on the security of our dear nation.
The President who congratulated Delta State Government for hosting the games urged officials and athletes to compete with the spirit of fairness and togetherness, while putting the interest of the nation ahead
He wished the athletes a fruitful competition.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Executive Governor of Delta State Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori stated that since inception, the National Youth Games has proven to be a cost effective and reliable tool to promote national unity, advance development and peace at both national and sub-national levels.
He observed that if this is effectively harnessed, sports has the power to positively impact on the economic and social wellbeing of any society.
Sports, he noted, plays a great role in the realization of development and peace, in its promotion of tolerance and respect, and the contributions it makes to the empowerment of women and of young people, individuals and communities, not to mention its health, education and social inclusiveness objectives.
The Governor noted further that the belief of the Deltans on these ideals was unshakeable and that is why he.said,the Government of Delta State has continued to make its resources available to host national and international sporting competitions
In 2018, he added, the state hosted the African Senior Athletics Championship, and in November 2022, the 21st National Sports Festival.
Gov. Oborevwori reiterated that the Stephen Keshi Stadium has become a venue of choice for hosting national football championships, as Delta is becoming the beehive of sports in Nigeria.
He assured all participants of a peaceful and exciting games as security personnel, protocol officers, traffic management teams, and volunteers are on ground to ensure a peaceful, safe and secure environment for free and fair competition.
Sports
FG to partner with Spain for sports development

In its bid to ensure that the huge sporting potentials are tapped for socio-economic growth and development of the nation, the Federal Government has expressed its desire to collaborate with Spain and other countries of the world in the field of sports.
The Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh spoke in Abuja when he received the Spanish Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency, Juan Ignacio Sell

Director of Press and Public Relations Mohammed Manga quote him to have stated that Spain was undoubtedly a renowned country in the field of sports, especially its Football League, the Spanish La Liga, a feat which the present administration is interested in replicating in the country.

Sports diplomacy, Enoh added, has become a very potent weapon in global diplomacy, and the President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration, have recognised Nigeria’s huge sporting potentials.
According to him, that explains why he created the Ministry of Sports Development with a mandate to work assiduously towards ensuring that the potentials are harvested and adequately deployed.
This he said is 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 participation in sports
“The potentials of sports in Nigeria is huge, the present administration intends to turn this potential to achievements, to go beyond the world of potentials and also make Nigeria become a renowned country in the field of sports”, he said
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 collabobate 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
Speaking earlier, the Spanish Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency,Juan Ignacio Sell indicated that he was in the Ministry to congratulate the Minister 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 commity 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
Sports
Enoh urges Sports Federations to be result driven

The minister of sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh has called on Sports Federations in the country to be result oriented hunting for talents at the grassroots while helping current elite competitors strive to raise the nation’s flag high through podium fniishes in all competitions.
Director Press and Public Relations Mohammed Manga in a statement quoted the minister to have made the call on Wednesday in his office at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja when he engaged the Presidents and Secretaries of National Sports Federations in an interactive session.

Enoh stated that the meeting was aimed at providing him with the opportunity to holistically assess the state of affairs of all Federations with a view to systematically addressing them for the development of the sector.
He said, the Ministry under his watch, will continue to play its statutory, supervisory and advisory roles on all sports Federations in the country in order to ensure proper governance as well as oversight on the plans each Federation executes.
The Minister charged them to show more commitment, passion and be focused in their activities so as to ensure success in their fields of sporting endeavours in line with the policy thrust of the present administration
While urging them to place the interest of the country above their personal interests, Senator Owan Enoh assured that government will focus on turning the tide to place less emphasis on positions and offices but instead on athletes’ welfare, infrastructure upgrade and development of the sector, among others.
The Minister who described the Federations as critical stakehokders in the industry, called on them to join hands with the federal government to ensure the development of the sector
Earlier in his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Sports Development, Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar stated that the meeting was conveyed to provide an opportunity to interact and brainstorm on issues that bother on efficiency and effectiveness of the Federations with a view to finding solutions administratively for them.
He assured that the Ministry will continue to create an enabling environment for the implementation of the initiatives, policies, programmes and projects of government for the empowerment of the teeming Nigerian youth through sports, thereby alleviating poverty, improving security and also contributing to the economic growth and development of the nation.
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