FG Engages youth
FG Engages youth in Grassroot Sports Development –
Sunday Dare
The Minister of Youth and Sport Development, Mr Sunday Dare has
said the ministry is prioritizing grassroot sports while exploiting
other ways of reviving interest at that level because grassroot
sports is investment in the younger generation.
The Minister, disclosed this on the sidelines of the ongoing
National Youth Games in Ilorin Kwara State, explained that
grassroot games remain the best means of identifying talents that
will represent the country in continental and international
tournaments.
At a courtesy visit to the Kwara state Deputy Governor, Mr
Kayode Alabi ,said that the National Youth Games has been strategic
in identifying young talents that Nigeria needs to groom for the
future, and that Kwara state, which has hosted the games is an
example to other states, since it is now being considered to host
other national and continental tournaments.
Mr Alabi expressed confidence that grassroot sports will be
revived with the Minister’s approach, saying that “we pray with the
new minister that something will be done. Athletics is something
that is very important. A lot of young people are going into drug
addiction right now, but sports is one avenue that can be used to
prevent that.”
The Minister, during his visit to the Vice Chancellor of the
University of Ilorin, said that the institution, in view of its
avalanche of sports facilities, would be considered as one of the
tertiary schools to be designated as Centre of Excellence in
Sports, which are being considered to be in each of the
geo-political zones.
He said “The University has held its own academically and more
importantly in the field of sports. The university is a multi
sports centre. Beyond the national youth games we will consider and
recommend this University to host national and continental
tournaments. UNILORIN will be one of the centres of sports
excellence to be announced.
“The ministry is committed to developing grassroots sports. We
want to revive the past where talents are discovered at young age
from events like these,” he stressed.
The Vice Chancellor University of Ilorin, Professor Sulyman Age
Abdulkareem expressed the confidence that sports will continue to
unite the country noting that “Sports can bring the Nation
together. When it comes to sports people don’t ask where you come
from.
An interactive session with the Forum of State Directors of
Sports had the Minister expressing concern that the culture of
supporting sports had dwindled over the years while charging the
Directors that they have the responsibility for reviving grassroot
sports at state level.
He said “Within the first week of taking office I was very clear
about the direction I want to take. One is grassroot sports
development and it is domiciled with the states. That’s why I’m
meeting with this team first because it is important. It is often
said that the gold is in the child. When a person wins gold at
18-19 years old that person must have been working on it since
being a child.
“The National Youth Games are the greatest opportunity we have
to re-launch grassroot sports. We need to get new talents,” he
stressed..
The Minister promised that his ministry will continue to provide
technical support and capacity building to state to ensure that
they are able to play their role as a critical component in the
discovery of new talents in the country.
The Directors, who asserted that grassroot sports have come to
stay, committed to supporting the minister to succeed in improving
Nigeria’s sports fortunes. They expressed their willingness to be
part of any innovative funding strategy evolved by the
minister.
Mr Tunde Akpej
SA (HM)
For : Director Press.