BY JOSEPH ODOEKWU
One of the greatest challenges faced with the development of Nigerian Sports is the lack of continuity and sustenance of policies that could aid the development of our athletes.
This is basically because Nigeria politicizes sports and forgets the fact that the future of athletes are at stake each time the issue of sports development is discussed.
In December 2019, Nigeria’s immediate Sports Minister Chief Sunday Dare introduced the Adopt-An-Athlete-Initiative. The initiative which was appreciated by stakeholders encouraged corporate bodies, individuals, and state governments to adopt athletes, facilities and financially support its development.
Sponsors who adopt athletes support athletes preparation for major global tournaments, while those who adopt projects support it financially to facilitate project upgrade.
According to the then Minister, 44 athletes benefited from the initiative in all, amongst which are Ese Brume, Blessing Okagbare, Divine Oduduru, Raymond Ekevwo, Itshekiri Usheorise, Ogho-Oghene Egwero, Joy Udo Gabriel, Praise Idamadudu, Adekuoroye Odunayo, Ruth Usoro, Nwokocha Nzubechi, Mercy Ita amongst others.
The initiative was a huge relief to the Ministry of Sports and Youth development as it witnessed rapid financial boosts coming from four state governors, a deputy governor, corporate bodies and several philanthropists who adopted athletes ahead of the Tokyo Olympics.
Sadly, as Nigeria is preparing towards the forthcoming France Olympics, Nigeria’s current Minister of Sports Sen. John Enoh has not deemed it fit to sustain the initiative of his predecessor despite several appeals made by the media, urging him to embrace it going by the success which it recorded.
Was the total abandon of the Adopt-An-Athlete-Initiative by Senator John Enoh an act done on sentiment? This is one question that need to be answered by the Minister of Sports and Youth development as stakeholders look up to him to give Nigeria sports a direction ahead of the Olympics which comes up next month.
Senator Enoh’s experience in the just concluded 13th African Games in Accra, where he was appealing to athletes to exercise patience, and giving them reasons why there was delay in payment of their allowances was enough reason for him to seek realistic initiatives such as the Adopt An Athlete Initiative, but it seems that experience was not enough.
And as the countdown towards the France Olympics continues, the underdevelopment of sport as a result of lack of continuity which has loomed over the years seems to have found it’s way once again in Nigeria’s preparations ahead of the France Olympics.
