Nigerians have been urged to diversify the nation’s economy by seeking
new and sustainable channels that will turn around the fortunes embedded
in Sports.
Minister of Sports Development Sen. John Enoh dropped the hint at the
sixth Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit held in Abuja.
Enoh maintained that Nigeria has the potential to grow its GDP
enormously through various avenues, particularly in sports.
He stated that Nigeria is a brand in the sports business, in areas like
football, athletics, boxing and mixed martial arts, with its talents
scattered across the world.
The Sports Minister further explained that sports can be converted into
sports tourism which provided a win-win situation for the country, in
terms of Diaspora Direct Investment (DDI) and Foreign Direct
Investments (FDI), GDP growth, job opportunities, industrialisation and
reduction in youth rascalities, crimes and criminalities.
In his words: “Sports can transform the lives of individuals. It
bolsters physical, psychological, emotional, and social well-being and
development.”
“At the same time, sport plays a significant role in cultures and
communities around the world. These factors alone justify investment in
sports. But there is also a growing understanding that sports” programs
merit support because they are powerful vehicles for achieving broader
goals, particularly in advancing development and peace agendas,” he
said.
He emphasised that this can only happen if the country does partner
with Nigerians in the Diaspora, that have the resources, experts and
global exposure in this field.
He stressed further that with Diaspora partnership, training centres
and learning skills in sports-related courses will be advanced, more
youths will be encouraged to take up jobs in sports and there will be
large funding for research and welfare packages, such as pension for
veteran coaches, players and other sports professionals in the Nigerian
sports industry.
He added that when such collaboration is made available, Nigeria can
have the full capacity to host international tournaments and sports
festivals, that will boost the country’s tourism sector.
The Minister agreed that the choice of theme, “New Vistas, New
Aspirations and New Visions: Diaspora and National Development”, is
very apt, given that it presents itself at a time, President Bola Ahmed
Tinubu, who was sworn-in in May, is poised to redefine every sector of
Nigeria’s economy, including Sports development, to greatness.
“Our President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC ran a presidential
campaign premised on Hope for a Better Future” laden with a promise to
revamp the cross-sector of the Nigerian economy and the social lives of
Nigerians”.
“In line with these, Nigerians have begun to see the decoupling of
hydra-headed administrative nomenclatures that have seen to why there has been no national progress over the years”.
“The sports ministry has benefited from these adjustments as it is no
longer a Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, but solely the Federal
Ministry of Sports Development”, he said.
The Minister said sports, diaspora and development, critical elements to
sustainable growth of the economy.
