Minister canvasses for states’ sports commissions

By Femi Atolagbe
|
In a bid to have a  grassroots sports rebirth in the country, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare has advised all 36 states of the federation to set up sports commissions.

The Minister gave the advise, at the unveiling  of some exceptional athletes at the 5th National Youth Games (NYG) at the University of Ilorin  yesterday .

He said the grassroot sport reside at the local government and at the  state level, saying what we have been seeing here since nine days ago is the real grassroot.

“I wish as a whole we can have sports commissions all over the country unlike what is obtainable now that some states have ministries of sports while others have sports commissions,” he said.

He said that the talents discovered would be penciled down and handed over to sports federations for nurturing and development.

Dare disclosed that besides the federation’s input at developing the talents, the ministry would henceforth, embark on periodic camping for the athletes to nurture them to make Nigeria proud in the future.

“I deliberately decided to see these few ones, I know they will be more than 250 were discovered at the last games .

He disclosed further that the Ministry will also improve on the technical depth of coaches by rotationally train them from each States.

“On Monday night when I was here, met with all the Directors of Sports (DoS) and we rubbed minds.

Let me thank the DoS because without you, this NYG would not be successful in spite of the fact that you are facing so much challenges.

“We want to make sure that beyond sending these young ones to federations we want to introduce periodic camping system so that we can nurture them and watch them grow to stardom,” he said.