Sports Minister Inaugurates Main Organizing Committee for 2024 National Sports Festival
By Victor UDU
Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, Tuesday inaugurated the a 16- man Main Organising Committee (MOC) for the 22nd National Sports Festival slated for 2024 in Ogun State.
Ishmaila Abubakar, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Sports Development was named as Chairman and Bukola Olapade, Chairman Local Organizing Committee as Vice Chairman.
Inaugurating the Committee at the media center ,MKO Abiola, Stadium, Abuja the Minister Charged members to deliver seamless and successful games next year.
Enoh said delivering a successful game requires hardwork and however observed that with the commitment of the Ogun State government and caliber of membership of the committee he is optimistic that the committee would surmount all challenges to deliver a successful game.
Admitting that the usual practice was for the funding of the games to be shared between the Ministry of Sports and the state hosting the games, the Minister stated that with the new National Sports Industry Policy ,sports should be seen as not only recreational but business.
He pointed out that after 22 years, the National Sports Festival has become a brand capable of attracting corporate sponsorship and encouraged the committee to package the Games to attract private sector sponsorship while describing sports as a multi-billion business.
The Nation's sports boss stated that if private sector-driven sports industry could work in other climes, there is no reason it should not work in Nigeria and appealed to the private sector and corporate organizations to support sports development in the country.
Responding on behalf of the newly inaugurated committee, Ismaila Abubakar, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry and Chairman of the Organizing Committee informed the Minister that members of the committee were fully aware that the responsibility of organizing successful games rest on them.
He assured him that the committee would mobilise both human and material resources to ensure a hitch free outing.
Earlier, Wasiu Isiaka, the Ogun State Commissioner of Sports assured the Minister that the State was fully prepared to deliver successful games.
Other members of the committee include,Dr. Paul Onyeudo, Olufehinti Olusegun, Mohammed Manga, Gregory Zi, Ms Fadeke Fadeyibi, Engr. Abolore Alanamu, Patrick Okeke, Mrs. Amaka Ashiofu, Prof. Olawale Moronkola, Engr. Habu Gumel, Sunday Odebode, Emmanuel Utobo, Bamiduro Olumide and Brendan Ndifon.
