Governments at all
levels should create an environment and infrastructure conducive to encouraging
private sector operators to participate in the sports sponsorship
to carry out the necessary development. Chief Joseph Okeke, former commissioner
for youth and sports development in Anambra, gave his opinion in an interview
with the Nigeria News Agency (NAN) in Awka on Thursday.
"It is the duty of
the government, at the federal, regional and local levels, to offer incentives
in the form of sponsorship, exemption, etc." to people, business
organizations that promote sports activities. The government must also build
sports facilities such as stadiums, indoor gyms, swimming pools, and others at
the collection sites. Next, motivated sports philanthropists will move to
schools and cities to attract a large number of participants, but without
knowing how to start, to showcase their talents," he said.
Okeke said the country
was losing huge resources by not producing athletes who would win laurels for
us. "Go to our primary and secondary schools, you will see many young
talents in training who grow up without anyone encouraging them to play sports.
Athletes offer many
benefits, including monetary rewards, fame, scholarships and free international
travel, which will make it a known name," he said.
Recall that on November
21, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, pledged to
intensify synergies with the private sector for the general development of
sports in Nigeria.
The minister announced
his promise Thursday in Abuja at the opening of a press conference.
Interdepartmental technical
session on the development of the sports industry organized by the Ministry of
Youth and Sports Development and the Nigerian Economic Summits Group (NESG).
He stressed the need for
a sports industry led by the private sector to create jobs for young people and
boost socio-economic development.
He said: "The
general practice is for the private sector to partner with the public sector to
exploit the commercial potential of the sports sector. The sector has the
economic potential to develop strategies and interventions to guarantee
economic growth and prosperity, which guarantees social and community
development in all areas."
Dare said the ministry
was working with the NESG and relevant ministries to develop a national sports
policy document, designed to achieve mutual understanding, vision and goals in
the field of sport.
He added that "the
inter-ministerial consultation will help develop a new policy aimed at
providing quality sports and physical experiences in the development of the
nation." Previously, Laoye Jaiyeola, president and CEO of NESG, emphasized
the need to consider sport as a viable commercial sector that can generate
income and create jobs.
He said that NESG was
ready to work closely with the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development to
reposition the sport for socio-economic development https://casino.netbet.ng/.
The Nigeria News Agency
(NAN) announced that the two-day technical session on "Positioning sport
as a design industry for action" brought together representatives from
ministries, departments, and agencies as well as the private sector.
Similarly, the president
of the Nigeria Boxing Federation (FBN) Kenneth Minimah has urged private
companies to support all three levels of government in the promotion and
sponsorship of boxing competitions and boxing tournaments in Nigeria.
According to him, it is
difficult to involve companies in the sponsorship of sports such as boxing.
"Some say it is a
dangerous and violent sport and prefer to invest their money in a fun and
non-violent sports." Boxing is beautiful, all other sports have their own
dangers, not only boxing; but with these experiences when we join, I am sure
that companies will want to follow that path.
"All our sponsors
are inclined to a sport, everyone wants to sponsor this sport. Little attention
is paid to boxing; in the past, great boxers were employed, now these boxers
are not paid," he said.
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