Sports Minister Meets SPRF Board, Says Sector Is Open To Private Investors
Oru Leonard
The Honourable Minister of Sports Development Senator John Owan Enoh has stated that sports development in Nigeria is now open to corporate and private investor participation.
Senator Owan Enoh disclosed this today in his office at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Abuja when the Board Members of Sports Performance Reward Fund (SPRF) led by its President Engr Musa Kida visited him.
He informed that the Ministry under his watch will remain open to collaboration with the corporate and private sector organizations in its resolve to ensure the development of sports in the country especially in such areas as grassroots sports development, scholarships for our athletes and infrastructure upgrades amongst others.
*This is important, especially in this era of dwindling scarce resources. The Ministry is ready to collaborate and partner with the private and corporate sector organizations to provide them with the opportunity to compliment Government efforts towards the engagement and empowerment of our teeming youth so as to create jobs for them, alleviate poverty amongst them and position them for success in their fields of endeavour. This will also make our society better and safer for further investments by both the public, private and corporate organizations* he said.
The Minister stated that the present administration under the Leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is conscious of this reality which is why in its wisdom, created the Ministry of Sports Development, and assigned him to saddle its affairs.
Senator Owan Enoh stated further that *government in its renewed Hope Agenda has also endosed the National Sports Industry Policy (NSIP) approved by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Administration. A Policy Document that spelt out the benefits of the public private partnership as well as private sector involvement in the development of sports in Nigeria. The Document promotes such initiatives that help nurture the relationship that is private sector driven*
He expressed optimism that with the calibre of the people that constitute membership of the Board of Sports Performance Reward Fund (BSPTF) which includes amongst others, the former Minister of State for Petroleum and later Minister of Foreign Affairs His Excellency, Henry Odein Ajumogobia, Professor Wale Sulaiman a world renowned Neurosurgeon as well as other distinguished personalities, if the potential of the initiative to Reward Nigerian podium finish athletes at international competitions is galvanised and rev-up, the development of youth sports within the country from the grassroots all the way to the Olympic heights will soon be achieved.
He therefore called on the Board Members of SPRF and indeed the private sector organizations to come out en mass and join hands with the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Administration to ensure the development of sports in Nigeria in line with global best practices.
Earlier in his remarks, the President Sports Performance Reward Fund, Engr Musa Kida thanked the Honourable Minister for the support and encouragement he has given the SPRF since his assumption of office and in receiving them inspite of his busy schedule.
He explained that, the reason why men and women of proven integrity who have been outstandingly successful in their various fields of endeavour have come together to birth and drive the Sports Performance Reward Fund was to establish a guaranteed and sure reward for generations of Nigeria’s sporting youth; make sports an oasis of excellence in Nigeria by complementing government efforts, and also to drive and motivate Nigerian Youth with sporting talent to put in the hard work and sacrifice required to be the best in the world.
Engr Kida expressed confidence that with the support of the Honourable Minister of Sports Development Senator John Owan Enoh and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Administration, *we can collectively make Nigeria a sustainable Global Superpower in all sports in not-too-distant future.*
(FMSD Media)
