The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare, has commended the Delta State governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, for hosting the Council of Sports meeting at short notice.
The Minister also promised a new dawn for sports development.
Speaking on Friday at the opening of the Council of Sports, Dare said said Delta State has made the meeting possible at short notice following the #ENDSARS protests which made Lagos to pull out.
He further pointed out that after 14 months as minister, he has realised that they need to do a lot to further develop sports, adding that Nigeria has huge potentials which must be explored to the fullest, especially as it concerns grassroots sports
The minister said the postponement of the National Sports Festival was one of the toughest decisions due to COVID-19 lockdown.
The minister revealed that the Principal’s Cup would be national, and would involve other sports.
He said the country must align its development with “what is obtainable in other parts of the world,” adding that the country needed sporting facilities in the states.
According to the Minister, the federal government would be approached for a bailout fund to put most of the abandoned facilities back in good shape., while government would also build mini sports centres in all parts of the country, and the existing ones given a facelift.
