The Nigerian government has expressed its desire to collaborate with Spain and other countries of the world in the field of sports, with a view to ensure that her huge sporting potential were tapped for the socio-economic growth and development of the nation.
The minister of sports development, Senator John Owan Enoh, stated this when he received the Spanish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Juan Ignacio Sell, in his office at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja Enoh, in a press statement signed by Director of Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Sports Development, Mohammed Manga, said Spain is undoubtedly a renowned country in the field of sports, especially its Football League, the Spanish La Liga, a feat which the present administration was interested in replicating in the country.
Sports diplomacy, Senator Enoh, added, has become a very potent weapon in global diplomacy, and the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration, having recognised Nigeria’s huge sporting potential, created the Ministry of Sports Development with a mandate to work assiduously towards ensuring that the potential are harvested and adequately deployed so as not only to enable the country join the comity of sporting nations of the world but also provide for job creation, poverty alleviation, security and inclusiveness through women participation in sports
“The potentials of sports in Nigeria is huge, the present administration intends to turn this potential to achievements, to go beyond the world of potentials and also make Nigeria become a renowned country in the field of sports,” he said
The Minister, who was earlier presented with a copy of an MoU that was signed by the previous administration, assured the Spanish Ambassador of the federal government’s determination to collaborate with other nations of the world, especially in the area of sports development.
He explained that the resolutions contained in the MoU will be looked at so as to identify areas of mutual benefit to both nations.
Speaking earlier, the Spanish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Juan Ignacio Sell stated that he was in the Ministry to congratulate the Minister on his appointment and to further seek for collaboration with Nigeria in the field of sports.
According to him, Nigeria is a country that has high potential in sports that can be harnessed and if adequately tapped, the country will join the commity of sporting nations.
He expressed the willingness of his country to collaborate with Nigeria, not only to harness its sporting potential but also to turn them into achievements for the benefit of both countries.
