Sports Minister promises to implement National Sports Industry Policy

The Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, has promised that the Federal Government will implement the National Sports Industry Policy (NSIP) as part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He made this pledge on Friday at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja, where he addressed the media and stakeholders.

The NSIP was approved by the previous administration of Muhammadu Buhari, but it was not fully implemented before his tenure ended. The policy aims to provide opportunities for corporate and private sector participation in the development of sports in the country and to transform sports from a mere recreation to a business.

Enoh said that the current administration has endorsed the NSIP and will work with the inter-ministerial committee set up by the former government, comprising the Ministries of Sports, Finance, and Federal Inland Revenue Service, to agree on a series of incentives for private sector investment and support for sports.

He added that one of the key objectives of the policy is to use sports as a source of unity, peace, and stability in the country, as well as a means of job creation and inclusivity for both male and female athletes.

He also said that the ministry will set up a mechanism for interfacing with the newly discovered talents from the just concluded National Youth Games (NYG) with a view to securing scholarships for their nurture to the elite stage.

He further said that the government will build facilities and infrastructure at the grassroots across the country to provide early exposure and grooming for budding talents.

He acknowledged the critical role of welfare in the performance of athletes and assured that the ministry will set up a well-planned welfare scheme to cater for both active and retired sportsmen and women, as well as recognise their contributions through various honours.

He said, “Anybody who has had cause to fly the national flag high and represent the country should be able to show them gratitude and recognition because it is no mean feat.”

He appealed to the private sector to partner with the government in developing sports in the country, saying that sports is a huge and vast area that requires massive investment and funding.

He cited examples of countries like China, Japan, South Korea, and Brazil, where sports have become a major source of revenue and national pride.

He said, “One of the major focuses of the ministry now is to see how we can get back and sell ourselves to the private sector, to see how much we can build trust and confidence so that competitions and initiatives of the ministry can have the endorsement and huge support of the private sector.”

He expressed optimism that with the implementation of the NSIP, Nigeria will be able to achieve its potential in sports and compete favourably with other nations at regional and global levels.