Yesterday, May 29, marked the first anniversary of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. To commemorate this milestone, the government released a comprehensive report highlighting its achievements in the sports sector over the past year. The report, titled “The Progress So Far,” was presented to LEADERSHIP Sports in Abuja on Tuesday.
The four-page document, signed by Diana Mary Nsan, special assistant on media to the Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, outlines the strides made under Tinubu’s leadership. One of the significant changes was the establishment of a dedicated Federal Ministry of Sports Development, which separated sports from other sectors for the first time. This move aimed to harness the potential of the sports sector to drive national growth, create employment opportunities, curb insecurity, and contribute to the GDP.
Senator Enoh conducted a thorough analysis of Nigeria’s sports landscape, identifying key issues and opportunities. He engaged extensively with stakeholders and initiated policies designed to bring about systemic changes. Among these policies were measures to support both active and retired athletes through a welfare system and an annual recognition platform, which have significantly accelerated sports development in the country.
A notable achievement highlighted in the report was President Tinubu’s intervention to clear over 12 billion naira in debts accumulated by the previous administration for football funding. This substantial financial commitment was directly transferred to the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), reflecting the administration’s dedication to the welfare of sportsmen and women. The total financial interventions for athletes have now reached about 17 billion naira under the President’s “Renewed Hope” agenda.
The report also emphasized the administration’s transparency and openness in disbursing funds for athletes, particularly for the 13th All Africa Games. Payments were made through the apex bank to ensure fairness and prevent any athlete from being shortchanged. While there were initial delays in payment, these issues have since been resolved, demonstrating the administration’s commitment to genuine and transparent change in the sports sector.
