Minister of Sports Meets With Federations Leaders

“Relationship with federations will be collaborative for greater success”

Senator John Owan Enoh has stated that the Ministry of Sports Development will continue to play its statutory supervisory and advisory roles on all sports federations in the country, as he charged them to be goal driven.

Enoh made the remark during a meeting with all sports federation presidents and secretaries on Tuesday, in Abuja. He highlighted that Government continues to have the responsibility to ensure proper governance in federations and will provide oversight on the plans each federation executes.

The minister stated thus “the ministry will continue to play its advisory roles and we are going to be transparent and communicate more. We must set targets for ourselves. We must get to a point in which those who want to be presidents must sufficiently challenge the norm about what they think they want to offer and what fuels their decision to run (for that position).”

“We need to show more commitment, focus and passion to succeed. We do not want federation presidents who are not committed or are only there to protect their own interests. We need the commitment of the leadership of all the federations,” he added.

Speaking at the meeting, some of the federation leaders highlighted their successes, plans and areas for further improvements. President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria, Francis Orbih said that early preparation is vital for the 2024 Olympic Games, with the federation aiming to fly the flag of Nigeria in Paris.

The Secretary of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Rita Mosindi stated that funding remains one of the critical issues affecting the federation, but the AFN will continue to work hard to ensure Nigeria gets quality representation on the international stage, at all times.

The Minister reiterated that the ministry will collaborate with all sports federations to ensure they are provided with all they need to thrive.

He charged all federations to be result-oriented, and ensure their activities are geared towards unearthing talents, while helping current elite competitors thrive.