The leadership of the forum of Directors of Sports of the 36 States of the Federation, and that of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have paid a familiarization visit to the Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, in his office, ahead of the 7th edition of the National Youth Games (NYG) in Asaba the Delta State Capital.
The top brass of the forum were led on the visit by its Chairman and Director of Sports Ebonyi State Mr. Utobo Emmanuel to the Minister’s office, located at Package A of the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja.
In his remarks on the occasion, Emmanuel said the essence of the visit was to officially felicitate with him on his appointment as the Minister of Sports as well as to intimate him on the activities of the forum, whose members forms bulk of constituents that makes up the National Council on Sports, in Nigeria.
According to Emmanuel, “the forum of Directors of Sports, play a pivotal role in the development of sports in Nigeria through grassroots sports because all the athletes are nurtured from the state, before being turned over to the Federations and national teams; as elite competitors”.
He reiterated that sports are incomplete without collective planning and participation of the forum; hence their utmost desire is to work interden with the Ministry, under the watch of Senator Enoh, by partnering with him, and complementing his vision and goals for the nation’s sports sector, at the states and zonal levels.
“While appreciating you (the honourable minister) for granting us audience; as leaders of the forum and Directors of Sports of our respective states; we appeal to you to see and accord our forum its rightful place, as a serious component for core decision-making, and policy think-tank that would help in repositioning sports development and policies, in the country”,Emmanuel posited.
The form advised the new Sports Minister to canvass more support and the buy-in of state Chief Executives for more investments in the area of sports development at the grassroots, to complement the efforts of the Federal Government. This they said can be done if the states and zones are made more functional with all year round activities.
In his response, the Honourable Minister specifically promised in strong terms, to grant all sports the attention they deserve, without bias; saying he intends to converge all stakeholders to a meeting of the Council of Sports in due course to help in modifying and solidifying the nation’s sports policy, to be at par with the world’s best standards.
Senator Enoh also revealed his intention to meet with the Governor’s forum to solicit their support for sports development and funding.
