The Executive Chairman of Lagos State Sports Writers Association (SWAN), Olatutu Oladunni has enjoined the new New Minister of Sports, John Enoh to give a new direction for sports administration in Nigeria during his tenure.
Oladunni, while speaking with the Minister during his visit to Lagos during his inspection of sports facilities, said there is a high expectation on Minister Enoh to breathe life into the sports sector which clamours for regeneration and redirection.
The Lagos SWAN boss said her hopes and those in the sports writing fraternity in Lagos and indeed Nigeria are to see a better spirit of rebirth, a pure and uncompromising spirit that directly impacts the positivity and productivity of the sports family and the sporting industry at large.
Oladunni also advised the new Minister to incorporate sports diplomacy which will establish bilateral collaborations and foreign relations with nations which are sports-oriented as this will generate income through sports.
The Sports Minister who listened with rapt attention to the Lagos SWAN chairman expressed his support for what Oladunni was saying, adding that all this would be accommodated in his main points of Agenda for Sports Development and Development of Sports.
On the sports facilities at the National Stadium, Surulere, Sports Minister Enoh said he was happy with the job Kessington Adebutu (Baba Ijebu) and Aliko Dangote are doing at the National Stadium Surulere Lagos and MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja respectively, adding that it was evidence that the involvement of the private sector is critical to rehabilitation of sporting facilities and sports development.
Meanwhile, the President General of Nigerian Football and other Sports Supporters Club, Dr. Rafiu Ladipo counselled the minister not to surround himself with mediocrity who may mislead him.
“These are praiseworthy singers whose only focus is on what they can earn themselves,” Ladipo said.
