Optimising sports development in Nigeria in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Administration
By Professor Emmanuel Ojeme
As the Federal government of Nigeria settles down to the new administration, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, it is considered germane to put in focus issues about the optimisation of sports development in Nigeria. No doubt, the whole essence of political democracy is the institutionalisation of a governance system, that would take charge of the affairs of the nation in all ramifications. One of the areas of focus is considered to be sports development.
In this regard, it would be recalled that this writer has continuously harped on the very essence of sports development as an integral component of nation building. It is, however, observed that
during political campaigns, sports development is hardly mentioned by politicians as an area of focus and when they do, it is usually of
peripheral importance. Since every new administration provides an
opportunity for a new beginning, the position of this article is that
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has a new opportunity to give a new
momentum to sports development in Nigeria. The benefits of a
prioritized sports development sector cut across youth development, economy, education, tourism, international diplomacy, social integration,
peace building, health, social and ethical values development.
Hence, it is often said that sports development is one silver bullet that brings about multi-sectoral fruits of achievement for a nation.
Here are some of the key strategies that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu could adopt for optimum actualisation of sports development in Nigeria.For sports development to be carried out effectively, it must first
and foremost be organically linked with the ideological spinal cord of the Nigerian nation, develop a compass and from this base, would emanate
Nigeria’s;
1) Philosophy of sports development
2) Values, vision and mission statements
3) Sports development policies
4) Implementation strategies
5) Linkages with cross-cutting institutions e.g. education, economic sector, investments
6) Sports infrastructure, human and material resources
7) Organizational and management systems e.g. the National sports commission
8) Sports programmes, competitions, manpower development, athletes
welfare e.t.c
9) Benchmark indices of assessment
10) Monitoring and evaluation.
11) Distinguished athletes and sports personnel comprehensive life
insurance
As it must be noted, sports is repugnant to nepotism, ethnicity and such other issues but at the same time it enthrones meritocracy and
inclusiveness in all ramifications for success.
Nigeria is evidently not where it should be in global and regional
sports, largely due to the wrong choices that have been made by past administrations. Excellence in sports development which is epitomised
by;
1) Adoption of a robust policy framework anchored on what the
Nigerian nation symbolises and the implementation of same by
professionalised and competent personnel is a fundamental
requirement for goal attainment. The outgoing administration has
given Nigeria a Sports Industry Policy yet to be adopted and
implemented. This document needs closer scrutiny while machinery
would be set in motion for its implementation thereafter.
2) Research and knowledge development are key to successful sports development.Usually, government seems unable to differentiate experts from the
artisans in sports. In economic development projects, it is not traders and hawkers that are called to round table but in sports matters, anyone who has won a football boot or ball boys can even make the list.
Government must separate Chefs from nutritionists in sports
development matters. Sports is a field of organised knowledge and
practice and it is expected that government leaders would do well
enough to make discerning decisions in the sports development endeavours. Hoping that the ideas in this brief article would be found useful in this endeavour by the new administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Good luck Nigeria!.
This piece was written by Professor Emmanuel Ojeme
EMAIL:successojeme@yahoo.com
