Senator John Owan Enoh, Minister of Sports Development, has pledged to tackle funding challenge in sports in the country.
Enoh made this known at a technical meeting with federations ahead of the 13th Africa Games in Ghana from March 8 to March 24.
The Minister said funding has always been a challenge in the development of sports in the country, and that relying wholly on government for funds was no longer tenable.
He noted: “The challenge of funds in sports has been in existence for so long and every day we keep talking about it.
“I am determined to solve that challenge even if we have to go ahead and amend existing laws to see what provisions these laws can make to fund our sports.
“Depending solely on the yearly appropriation from government can never be a solution, meaning there must be a way out of it.
”Also coming from a background where I chaired and worked in a finance committee at the Senate and House of Representatives , I have a determination and commitment to see how we can end and tackle this challenge.
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“If by the end of this year, I am still going to go back, depending on government for 100 per cent funding for the Ministry, then it means that there is more that is required to be done,” he said.
The Minister urged and encouraged the federations to push for podium finish at the Games, where Nigeria will be participating in 23 sports and three demonstration sports.
Senator Enoh commended the Ministerial Podium Performance Advisory Team led by Professor Ken Anugweje and the Presidents of the various Sports Federations for the work they are doing in the various federations.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Sports Development, Ismaila Abubakar, said that the meeting was convened by the minister to enable the various stakeholders to brainstorm and evolve strategies for the nation to achieve success at the African, Olympic/Paralympic Games and other sports competitions.