Ahmed charges NSC on sport development

The Governor of Kwara State, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed, has called on stakeholders in the sports sector to evolve and implement a strong policy framework for sports development so that the country will always excel at international sports meets.
This was just as the Chairman, National Sports Commission and Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi, promised that the National Council on Sports meeting was part of the strategy to reposition sports in the country.
Ahmed gave the charge on Thursday at the meeting of the National Council on Sports taking place in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
According to Governor Ahmed, with a new orientation in the sports sector, Nigeria will not only win laurels but also derive socio-economic advantages.
He said: “Properly managed, the potential economic, social and political benefits of sports to our nation are vast.
“It is my view that sports development must transcend the primary motive of leisure and entertainment to serve as a powerful tool for national mobilization and crucially, economic prosperity in view of the compelling need to diversify our resource base as a nation.”
Ahmed, who noted that sport brings fame and fortune to focused nations and individuals, called for the sharpening of grassroots scouting strategies in order to discover raw talent from all nooks and crannies of the country.
He advised the delegates to strategise on how to encourage Public Private Partnership synergy in sports development, adding: “We must not only package our sports to attract private sector participation but also institute a corporate governance strategy that will guarantee efficiency and the associated benefits of high earnings for competitors, promoters and government.”
The governor pledged the commitment of his administration to the utilization of sports as a platform for mobilizing youths for greater self development and prosperity.
Earlier, Abdullahi expressed the hope that the outcome of the meeting will enhance the vision of President Goodluck Jonathan to make Nigeria the leading sporting country in Africa and one of the five sporting nations in the world.
He said new programmes and policies, including the decision to make the National Sports Festival open from the next edition in Calabar, Cross River State, have been designed to ensure that Nigeria derives maximum benefits from sports.
The minister said the sports ministry will also evolve strategies to encourage Nigerian talents in the diaspora to feature for Nigeria in international sporting events.