FG to focus on athletes’ welfare, improve infrastructure – Sports minister

The Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, has said the federal government will focus on athletes’ welfare, infrastructure upgrades and the development of the sports sector.

Owan Enoh made the announcement during an engagement with the Presidents and Secretaries of National Sports Federations at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on on Tuesday.

The minister stated that the Ministry under his watch, will continue to play its statutory, supervisory and advisory roles on all sports Federations in the country in order to ensure proper governance as well as oversight of the plans each Federation executes.

He charged the stakeholders to show more commitment, and passion and be focused in their activities so as to ensure success in their fields of sporting endeavours in line with the policy thrust of the present administration

The minister described the sports federations as critical stakeholders in the industry and called on them to join hands with the federal government to ensure the development of the sector.

He also called on Sports Federations in the country to be result-oriented and ensure their activities are geared towards unearthing talents at the grassroots while helping current elite competitors strive to raise the nation’s flag high through podium finishes in all competitions.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Sports Development, Ismaila Abubakar, stated that the meeting was conveyed to provide an opportunity to interact and brainstorm on issues that bother the efficiency and effectiveness of the Federations with a view to finding administrative solutions for them.

Abubakar assured that the Ministry will continue to create an enabling environment for the implementation of the initiatives, policies, programmes, and projects of the government for the empowerment of the teeming Nigerian youth through sports, thereby alleviating poverty, improving security and also contributing to the economic growth and development of the nation.