….Minister Unveils Plans for other sports

SUNDAY DARE, Minister Of Youth & Sports Dev.

The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Minister Mr Sunday Dare  has commended the  Delta state Governor  Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa for hosting the Council of sports  Meeting at short notice as he promised a   new dawn for sports development.

Speaking on Friday at the opening of  the  Council  on Sports  Mr. Dare said “What is the council without  the presence of the all states. Delta State has made this possible  at short notice following  the #ENDSARS protests  which made Lagos to pull out.

After 14 months as Minister, I realized  that we need to do a lot to further  develop  our sports. Nigeria has huge potentials which must be explored  to the fullest.  We want a change beyond just attending competition. Sports Development   means Grassroots  Development, infrastructural development, Atheletes  welfare and  business.

We want to change the orientation  that sports  is played so that we can have the right template. Postponement  of the National sports Festival  was one of the toughest  decision due to covid-19 lockdown .  It was timely, we thank God that we all survived  it and very  soon we look forward to  hosting the  Festival.

Edo 2020 engages my mind because  of the passion, opportunities  it affords our youth. We desire that this takes place this year. We can work out the modalities, consult PTF  and go to the President for final approval. If we are able to host the festival, it would engage  our youths .We need to engage our youths  through the Unity Cup.

We already started it in Oyo and saw the passion  by the youths, We plan to have Kano, Kwara and Delta Unity Cup.  Each state would be at liberty to decide  the sports  they have most interest in. 

The Principal’s  Cup would be national, it is also going to involve  other sports. We must align our development  to what is obtainable  in other parts of the world. We need sporting facilities  in our states. We are approaching  the Federal  Government  for a bail out fund to put most of the abandoned  facilities  back. We also  plan to build mini sports centres in all part of the country.  Those that already have would be given face lift.