Sen. John Owan Enoh, Minister of Sports Development, reports that the Federal Government has given the National Sports Industry Policy (NSIP) its final approval for adoption and full implementation.
At a news conference on Saturday in Abuja, Enoh said this.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the document opens up opportunities for corporate and private sector involvement in the growth of sports in the nation.
Enoh asserted that the Tinubu-led administration will exhaust all possible avenues in its efforts to bring about positive change in all spheres, with sports playing a significant role in that strategy.
In order to promote sports development, he pointed out that the NSIP approved under the previous administration has been scheduled for implementation under the current administration.
“The current administration, led by our president, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has received endorsement for the National Sports Industry Policy as approved by the previous administration,” he stated.
The minister remarked that the policy’s main goal is to promote sports as a business, not only a form of leisure.
He clarified that the purpose of the inter-ministerial committee formed during the previous administration, which included the Ministries of Sports, Finance, and Federal Inland Revenue Service, was for the committee to reach consensus on a number of incentives that the government is expected to accept.
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The goals of the incentives are to increase sports funding and private sector investment.
As is possible in other parts of the world, it is crucial that moving forward, investments and support for sports come from the business sector.
Enoh emphasised the importance of the ministry effectively marketing sports to the private sector for the sake of societal advancement.
“One of the Federal Ministry of Sports Development’s goals is to figure out how to market sports to the business world.
“We want to build the trust and confidence of the private sector,” he added. “So that competitions and the ministry’s initiatives can enjoy the supports and endorsement of the private sector.”
The minister stressed the necessity of taking the nation back to a time when the private sector played a significant role in sports. (NAN)
