When John Owan Enoh was announced as the Sports Minister designate, the media buzzed with the question: who is he Enoh?
Nigeria’s greatest literary export, Chinua Achebe, once said, “When the moon is shining, even the cripple becomes hungry for a walk.” In the past few days, I have read with a mix of shock and disappointment the social media outcry from uninformed individuals calling for the removal of the Minister for Sports Development, Senator John…
The minister’s struggles are not just with the challenges of the sports sector but also with the prejudices against people from less prominent ethnic groups.
The minister developed the JOE Six-Point Agenda for Nigeria Sports Development, which he later acronymized as The President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Sports Development Roadmap . This roadmap, unveiled on December 19, 2023, focuses on the Welfare of Athletes, Activation of the Sports Business Industry, Infrastructure Development, Funding for Sports Development, Activation/Institutionalization of Early Age Sports, and the Reorganization of Sports Federations for Impact.
3. In June 2024, Nigeria hosted it first Sports Industry stakeholder conference at Enugu, where proposals on far-reaching decisions that would positively shape the future of sports in Nigeria were taken and ratified by the stakeholders. Various memos therefrom are presently before the national assembly and Mr. President.
7. Nigeria has recorded unparalleled success in Basketball. Nigeria’s Rivers Hoopers came agonizingly close to reaching the Basketball Africa League Finals, losing 83-89 to Libyan side Al Ahly. This was a first for Nigeria. The Female Basketball team also became the very first male or female African team to qualify for the quarter finals of in the over 100 years history of the Olympics, defeating two team rated amongst the top 5 in the world.
Critics have latched onto the minister’s statement that Nigeria did not prepare well enough for Paris 2024. He did not misspeak; he was merely stating a truth that must be acknowledged. Preparation for the Olympics must begin years in advance, not just months before the event. Nigeria must learn from nations like China, France, and the USA, who invest heavily in both current and future athletes.
China, France and USA came to Paris 2024 with two sets of athletes- those that could win them medals now and those they are grooming for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. This suggests a long-term planning mindset. We must learn from these. We cannot start preparations for the Olympics 12 months to the games and then lock up, ourselves in our prayer closets and expect a miracle! The Olympics is the biggest sporting stage in the world. We have to prepare like other nations do.
Traditionally, Nigeria should be excelling globally in sports like Athletics, boxing, weightlifting, table tennis, football, wrestling, swimming, basketball, volleyball, Taekwondo, Judo and a few others. Over the years, we have lost footing on a number of these sports for reasons other than talents. Nigerians should ask why.
Finally, it is disheartening to see videos on social media of individuals—whom I call entrenched interest groups—criticizing the minister. These individuals have long benefited from their close ties with the sports ministry and now feel threatened by the minister’s refusal to grant their self-serving requests. Nigerians must see through their motives and recognize the minister’s genuine efforts to reform the sector.
The Department of State Services has said that they arrested a Nigerian journalist, Adejuwon Soyinka, based on a request from another government agency. News media, PREMIUM TIMES reports that the DSS spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, said this in an update. "We are working on Adejuwon Soyinka’s case,” Afunanya confirmed in a text message to PT…The former President Goodluck Jonathan’s adviser, Dr.
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