Sports As A Viable Industry That Will Grow The Nigerian Economy – Minister

The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare has once again reiterated his vision of sports as a viable industry and business hub that will grow the Nigerian Economy, considering the large percentage of human resource that are mostly youths. The Minister confirmed this when he had in audience a delegation from the Nigerian Economy Summit Group (NESG) in his office in Abuja.



Speaking further, the Minister assured that in few weeks, there shall be a Sports Business Summit, and this visit is very timely considering the Ministry’s determination to partner with relevant stakeholders in Youth and Sports Development. He said very quickly he will be meeting with his colleague in Women Affairs, Trade and Industry as he had earlier done with both Ministers of Education to collaborate on youth engagement, thereby bring our youths up to top speed with the education an empowerment for livelihood that they required.



The Minister said the Federal Government is determined and willing to open the development doors of sport and work it through a most viable business module. He assured the group of the Government’s support in their bid to take sporting activities to the desired business level that it requires. He directed that a Desk be created immediately to see to the fruitful and regularly meeting with the eminent focal group to achieve target objectives.



Earlier, the head of the delegation Mr Udeme Ufot, MFR, expressed the groups appreciation to the Minister for his attitude, action and inspiration towards the group and sports activities at large. The reason for the visit they said is to brief the Minister on the activities of the group which are centred on diversifying the sports sector, a call to partner more with the private sector to get things done.



The Secretary of the group Mrs. Nkechi Obi, gave highlight on the group work plan, which is to harness the economic and social potentials of sports, enshrine sports development as a key driver and contributor to the economy, restructure  and re-positioning of the sports industry in Nigeria amongst others. She also listed their expected output as, a National synergy between Federal Ministry of Youth And Sports with Ministry of Education on unified sporting calendar and grassroots participation and also encouraged the development of a special funding window for the sports industry.



The group used the opportunity to call on the Ministry to assist the group with the political weight it deserved. They stated that though their previous effort to lift sports to greater height  have been fruitless, but now with the calibre of Minister on board, they are very optimistic of positive result as the journey progresses. The delegates afterwards presented the Minister with their work plan and promised him of their all-round support.