Yesterday’s Sunday, August 21, exactly marked Sunday Dare’s three years in office at the helm of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and it is time to take a look at how Nigeria’s sports sector has fared under the Ogbomoso born journalist turned politician and sports administrator.
Dare on assuming office three years, had a clear agenda and to say he hit the ground running on the dual responsibility of taking care of the sports sector and the vigour of the youthful population, would be putting it mildly.
In three years, Dare has led from the front, in facilitating sports development at all levels and catalyzing Nigeria to record-breaking feats in sports.
Just two weeks ago, Nigeria posted its best ever performance in the history of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Team Nigeria won 12 gold, 9 silver and 14 bronze medals. In the run up to the Games, Sunday Dare reiterated on numerous occasions the need for Nigerian athletes to compete and deliver podium performances and not just make up the numbers. This was achieved, as a scientific process was initiated by the minister to focus on sports where the country had comparative advantage.
Moreso, at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Nigeria broke a 13-year record with its silver and bronze medal victory, while also winning four gold, one silver and seven bronze medals at the Paralympic Games.
As part of the mechanism put in place to bring the best out of Nigerian athletes, the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, under Dare’s guidance and supervision, instituted ‘Adopt-an-Athlete Programmes’ aimed at prioritising training and athletes’ welfare. The initiative has provided grants for over 45 athletes from corporate bodies and individuals. Athletes such as Oluwatobiloba Amusan, Ese Brume, Blessing Oborodudu and several top performing athletes benefited from the initiative while the National Basketball teams enjoyed $5000,000 grants.
Aware that inability to access appropriate facilities act as perceived motivational barriers, Dare rejuvenated sports infrastructures in the country also with his ‘Adopt-a-Facility Initiative’, a Private-Public Partnership that led to the revamping of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, National Stadium Lagos and other facilities such as the
Daura Township Stadium, Liberty Stadium, Ibadan are also benefiting from the scheme.
The National Principal’s Cup has unearthed almost a generation of super stars for the country but it went into comatose for 25 years. Sunday Dare’s grassroots development drive led to the revival of the Principal’s Cup in 2021, encompassing different Sports for schools from all geo-political zones of the country.
The Nigerian Sports Industry Policy, which sought to draw inputs from Nigerian sports personalities at home and around the world, has attracted applause for the minister as he seeks to get all the relevant stakeholders ready to render service to the country. Though, the draft of this particular policy is with the Federal Ministry of Justice for vetting, the reclassification of sports as business, which has been approved by the Federal Executive Council, has attracted similar applause, as well as the widely-acclaimed 10-year Football Master Plan that seeks to return the country’s football to its glorious days, the final report of which a committee recently submitted to the sports minister.
The National Sports Festival, the National Youth Games, Talent Hunt Programmes are few among many other programmes changing the narrative for Nigerian grassroots sports development, which has enjoyed unwavering attention and support from the minister, as a result of his unbridled commitment for development.
Even with meager resources, it has been three years of a progressive trajectory for sports in the country under Sunday Dare and with more reforms set to be finalized, one can only raise a two thumbs to a quintessential leader, who has laid down the gauntlet and has passionately pursued success in his sector.
