The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to sport development in the country with the promise to continually sustain support given to Nigerian Athletes within and across the globe.
The Minister of Youth and Sport Development, Mr. Sunday Dare gave the assurance today in his office in Abuja, when the Nigerian-American professional Mixed Martial Arts UFC Champion, Kamurudeen Usman paid him a courtesy call.
According to him, “I warmly welcome you to the Ministry of Youth and Sport Development for deeming it fit to pay a courtesy call to the Ministry after your great heights of achievement in Mixed Martial Arts. This is because you have identified with the Ministry that has the mandate for sport development in the country.”
Mr. Dare who eulogised Kamarudeen as a patriotic citizen with the Nigerian spirit, stressed that a large number of Nigerian youth are sports loving people and that the visit will leave a pathway to the recruitment of the youth in the sport.
“We are looking at growing the sport in Nigeria by involving majority of our young ones in the sport and you stand a better position to mentor Nigerian youth in the sport” he said.
The Minister assured further that the Sports Ministry will work with Kamarudeen at the National level and that it will give necessary support to sustain his height of achievements.
Mr. Dare who thanked Kamarudeen the reigning UFC Welterweight Champion for coming home to identify and share his success story, added that the greatest beneficiary of the visit is the youth of our country who are interested in the mixed martial arts game.
Earlier in his speech, Mr. Kamarudeen expressed appreciation to the President Muhammadu Buhari Administration and the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development in particular, for its commitment to sports development in the country.
He explained that his mission is to effect a change around the world and achieving this change is by creating a foundation of mixed martial arts champions in which young Nigerians can actually see a future different than where they are presently and create a platform for a lasting legacy in other to move Nigeria forward.
Mr. Kamarudeen currently competes in the welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, where he is the reigning UFC Welterweight Champion.
John Olatunji
Asst. Chief Inf.
For: DIRECTOR-PRESS
