By Uzor Odigbo
Sports Minister, Sen. John Enoh has charged Presidents of different National Sports Federations to partner with the Ministry of Sports Development to ensure improvement in the general performance during the forthcoming African, Olympic/Paralympic Games 2024.
At Thursday’s technical meeting with presidents of the various sports federations, Enoh outlined the focus of the meeting to be: Each Federations roadmap, medals projection, challenges and the way forward towards podium performances at the Games.
He says the technical meeting affords the Ministry and the various stakeholders within the nation’s sports ecosystem the opportunity to change the narrative of the sports sector and consolidate on the gains achieved at the retreat.
Enoh reiterated his commitment and determination to take the nation’s sports to greater heights and sued for the cooperation of the various stakeholders.
He also expressed his preparedness to explore all available options including holding periodic meetings with stakeholders and encouraging processes that will lead to amendments of relevant laws to ensure that sports receives the desired injection that it needs for better performance.
‘Looking at where we are coming from, there is no reason why we should not hold periodic meetings between the Ministry and the various sports
federations.
‘On our part, the Ministry is fully committed to ensuring that these meetings take place on a periodic basis because we have a shared responsibility with the sports federations,’ he said.
The Minister who identified funding as the greatest challenge facing sports in the country for the past 30 years, said that he would do everything within his
power to surmount the problem.
He also revealed that his engagement with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the issue of adequate funding of sports strengthened his resolve and commitment to solve this problem.
The Minister commended the Ministerial Podium Performance Advisory Team led by Professor Ken Anugweje and the Presidents of the various Sports Federations
for the work they are doing in the various federations
