By Taofeek LAWAL, Abuja
A new dawn is on the horizon for Nigerian Sports with the presentation of the new Sports Industry policy with Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, assuring that the policy would stand the test of time.
Speaking while receiving the Draft National Sports Industry Policy, the minister said the event was a milestone with the capacity to change the face of running sports business in Nigeria.
While congratulating members of the steering committee of the Sports Industry Working Group (SIWG), the policy validation committee and the National sport industry policy drafting committee the relevant MDAs and Ministries for their commitment in bringing the draft Sports Industry Policy into reality, the minister stated, “On behalf of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, I congratulate all members of the committee for this giant stride, your commitment, dedication and doggedness to bring this draft sports policy to reality.
Your efforts are highly appreciated. This policy no doubt is a new dawn that will drive the process of moving sports away from being recreational to business. I recall the opportunity I had during the 25th Nigerian Economic Summit, to chair its Sports Industry Business Roundtable Session.
The session featured various speakers from all sectors emphasising the challenges in developing sports as a viable business sector capable of attracting investments and delivering returns to investors. This gave birth to setting up various groups to review our 2009 sports policy which no doubt is now obsolete.”
“However the draft National Sports Industry Policy is a review of the 2009 edition, which is principally intended to update the norms and values in the sports industry in achieving the mandate, vision and mission of the Federal Ministry of Youth and sports Development in line with international best practices.”
”It is important to note that this reviewed National Sports Industry Policy will proffer solutions to 4 key trigger issues – 3Is and 1P that will take sports to the next level, that is, Infrastructure, Investment, Incentives and Policy.”
The Minister also commended the Permanent Secretary, Mr Gabriel Aduda, Mr Ufot Udeme the co-chairman and other members of the committee for their valuable contributions towards the drafting the new National Sport Industry Policy (NSIP).
The NSIP will be unveiled to the general public and the National council of sports for comments and feedbacks
before it would be officially presentated to the Federal Executive Council for final approval.
