Dalung counsels new federations presidents on transparency, team play

Youth and Sports Development Minister, Solomon Dalung has charged the newly inaugurated boards of federations to promote accountability, prudence and team play in the running of their affairs.

Dalung gave the admonition at the weekend in Abuja while inaugurating the new board of the Gymnastics Federation of Nigeria (GFN), after successfully resolving the lingering crises that prevented its inauguration along with others last week.

The minister also advised the boards to strive for peace and unity within its ranks in order to move the sports forward.

He recalled the allegation of violence during the board’s last election, a development, which led to the initial nullification of the result by the Appeals and Petitions Committee before the Arbitration Panel straightened things up in line with due process and social justice.

He then urged the new federations’ bosses to be democratic and guard against ‘sole administrator mentality,’ which he described as one of the factors inhibiting sports development in Nigeria.

Dalung urged the new presidents to imbibe the principle of inclusion, team play, consultation, as well as uphold the need for holding regular board meetings.

Responding on behalf of his board members, the new Gymnastics Federation of Nigeria President, Prince Kelvin Orimogie promised to work for unity and do the needful to move the sport forward.

He also assured that the new administration would lay more emphasis on grassroots development in order to take gymnastics to a higher level.