The Nigeria Minister of Sports Development Sen John Owan Enoh, has said that the present Governmment in its renewed Hope Agenda has endorsed the National Sports Industry Policy (NSIP) approved by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Administration.
He made the announcement when the Board Members of Sports Performance Reward Fund (SPRF) led by its President Engr Musa Kida visited him in his office on Thursday.
Enoh whose office is at Moshood Abiola National Stadium Abuja said that the Ministry is ready to partner with the private and corporate sector organizations to provide them with the opportunity to compliment Government efforts towards the engagement and empowerment of our teeming youth.
He said in this era of dwindling scarce resources, it is important to create jobs for youth, alleviate poverty amongst them and position them for success in their fields of endeavour.
After he said that the Ministry under his watch will remain open to collaboration with corporate and private sector organizations especially in the of grassroots sports development, scholarships for athletes and infrastructure upgrades, Sen Enoh said: “The policy document promotes such initiatives that help nurture the relationship that is private sector driven.”
He said the Policy Document spelt out the benefits of the public private partnership as well as private sector involvement in the development of sports in Nigeria.
The Minister expressed optimism that with the calibre of the people that constitute membership of the Board of Sports Performance Reward Fund (BSPTF) the development of youth sports within the country from the grassroots all the way to the Olympic heights will soon be achieved.
While calling on the Board Members of SPRF and indeed the private sector organizations to come out en mass and join hands with the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Administration, he stated “If the potential of the initiative to Reward Nigerian podium finish athletes at international competitions is galvanised and rev-up, this will also make our society better and safer for further investments by both the public, private and corporate organizations.”
To establish a guaranteed and sure reward for generations of Nigeria’s sporting youth; the President Sports Performance Reward Fund, Engr Musa Kida, explained that BSPTF constitutes men and women of proven integrity who have been outstandingly successful in their various fields of endeavour and have come together to birth and drive the Sports Performance Reward Fund.
He said their role is to make sports an oasis of excellence in Nigeria by complementing government efforts, and also to drive and motivate Nigerian Youth with sporting talent.
Engr Kida, thanked the Minister for receiving them inspite of his busy schedule.
The Board Members of the BSPTF Include, the former Minister of State for Petroleum and later Minister of Foreign Affairs His Excellency, Henry Odein Ajumogobia, Professor Wale Sulaiman a world renowned Neurosurgeon as well as other distinguished personalities.