The 1st National Council on Sports Meeting after the demerger of the Federal Ministry of Sports Development (FMSD) took place at the Old Government Lodge, Abakaliki Road, Enugu, Enugu State on Wednesday, 22ndMay 2024. The theme of the National Council was “Sports for National Unity and Socio-Economic Growth”.
- Council deliberated on issues relating to sports development in Nigeria and:
i) commended the Federal Government for its political will to develop sports in the country through the creation of a dedicated full-fledged Ministry to manage the affairs of sports in the country;
ii) expressed appreciation to the Executive Governor of Enugu State, His Excellency, Barr. (Dr) Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, the Government and the good people of Enugu State for their warm reception, hospitality and support towards the hosting of the National Council on Sports;
iii) commended the Honourable Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enohfor his doggedness and pragmatic approach to sports development in the country;
iv) extolled the Government of Ogun State for its commitment to the successful hosting and organisation of the forthcoming 2024 National Sports Festival;
v) noted the presentation on the overview of the Federal Ministry of Sports Development and approved that States should key into the new initiatives and programmes of the Ministry;
vi) noted the presentation on the FMSD Strategic Plan 2024-2027 and the objectives of the Plan to enhance sports development in Nigeria;
vii) urged States and the FCT to domesticate and align their Strategic plans with that of the FMSD;
viii) urged all key stakeholders to ensure they play their roles towards the implementation of the Nigeria Sports Industry Policy (NSIP) to fully maximise the benefits derivable therein;
ix) noted the presentation on the implementation of the Nigeria Sports Development Road Map, WAIFAR and approved its strategic plan for reorganising National Sports Federations in Nigeria for improved output and performance;
x) noted the presentation on the importance of logistics and infrastructure requirements for a successful event organisation;
xi) noted the presentation on the roles of sports in national unity and socio-economic growth for the sustainable development of the country;
xii) enjoined States to incorporate logistics and infrastructure requirements planning when hosting sports competitions;
xiii) noted the presentation on marketing and promotion strategies to attract participation and spectators;
xiv) enjoined the use of marketing and promotion strategies to boost sports participation and spectators;
xv) noted that targeted funding and incentives are crucial for driving grassroots sports engagements and ensuring the sustainability of sports programmes;
xvi) supported the establishment of Sports Development and Investment Funds (NSIDF) with its attendant benefits for driving sports development in Nigeria;
xvii) urged the Federal and State Governments to bid for, and host national and international sports competitions to fast-track the growth of sports in the country;
xviii) approved an upward review of the Participation Fees paid by participating States and the FCT at the National Youth Games, National Para Games and the National Sports Festival from fifteen thousand Naira (N15,000.00) to Thirty Thousand Naira (N30,000.00) only due to prevailing economic realities;
xix) approved September 10th – 20th, 2024, as the dates for the 8th Edition of the National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State;
xx) approved that the 3rd Edition of the National Para Games beheld in the first quarter of 2025;
xxi) approved January 2025 as the date for the 22nd National Sports Festival activities;
xxii) noted the approval of Mixed Martial Arts Federation by the Federal Ministry of Sports Development and its inclusion in the list of optional sports for the National Sports Festival;
xxiii) approved the upgrading of Dambe Traditional Sport from optional to compulsory sports in the National Sports Festival;
xxiv) approved the inclusion of not more than three (3) selected Deaf Sports in the list of compulsory sports at the National Sports Festival to promote inclusivity;
xxv) directed that relevant Articles of the Rules and Regulations guiding the Games be amended accordingly to reflect these changes;
xxvi) noted that the sport of Fives is already a scoring event at the National Sports Festival and advised the leadership of the Federation to liaise with organisers of the 22nd National Sports Festival to include the sport as one of the seven (7) optional sports that would be featured at the Games;
xxvii) noted the need to promote sports and fitness due to the established health benefits of physical activity and increasing burden of non-communicable diseases and the economic potential of the sports industry in Nigeria;
xxviii) approved that the Federal Ministry of Sports Development presents a memorandum to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to designate 2nd August of every year as National Sports and Fitness Day in Nigeria;
xxix) urged the Federal Ministry of Sports Development to encourage more women to contest for Leadership positions during the National Sports Federations elections and increase the number of women in leadership to a minimum of three (3);
xxx) urged that female Chaperones should be appointed to accompany female athletes to any sports competitions and all stakeholders in the sports ecosystem to pay more attention to the well-being of women and girls in sports for equity;
xxxi) supported referees to attend international refresher courses and competitions, recognised for rewards and awards;
xxxii) urged referees to educate athletes and coaches on the latest rules of their sports;
xxxiii) enjoined the Federal Ministry of Sports Development to support the implementation of Kano State Sports Development initiatives through proper guidance, expertise and regulatory framework needed for the programmes;
xxxiv) noted that the success of anti-doping in Nigeria depends on collaboration amongst key stakeholders and it is important for National Sports Federations and State Sports Councils/Commissions to develop anti-doping structures and capacity;
xxxv) directed National Sports Federations and State Sports Councils/Commissions to start building anti-doping structures and capacity within their organisations;
xxxvi) urged that national team jerseys should celebrate cultural and ethnic diversity and be produced locally to support local enterprises and contribute to the nation’s GDP;
xxxvii) noted that the process for upgrading of the National Institute for Sports (NIS) as a sports University has commenced;
xxxviii) approved that certification from the National Institute for Sports (NIS) should be encouraged for Coaches and Sports Administrators;
xxxix) supported the establishment of a National Sports Infrastructure Development Commission (NSIDC) to address the sports infrastructure deficit and its benefits to the development of athletes and the sports sector;
xl) approved that the Federal Ministry of Sports Development submits a memorandum for the establishment of a National Sports Infrastructure Development Commission (NSIDC) to the Federal Executive Council with the aim for an Executive Bill to be drafted for onward submission to the National Assembly for passage into law; and
xli) commended Cross River State for accepting to Host the next edition of the National Council on Sports.
Issued in Enugu, Enugu State, this Wednesday, the 22nd Day of May, 2024.
SENATOR JOHN OWANENOH
Hon. Minister of Sports Development/
Chairman, National Council on Sports
