Sports Minister, John Owan-Enoh, has urged the private sector to support the Federal Government’s bid to revamp the sector and turn it into a viable contributor to the nation’s economy.
The minister, who said he is in the sports ministry to actualize President Bola Tinubu’s bid to use the sector to provide opportunity for economic empowerment, job creation, security and poverty alleviation, said the dream would only be realized with the support of the organized private sector.
Speaking during ab interactive session with stakeholders in the sports industry in Lagos on Friday, Owan-Enoh said he would continue to consult and collaborate with stakeholders in the sports industry, private and corporate organizations towards the realization of government’s objective of repositioning the sector for economic growth and development of our nation.
He explained that his tour of sporting facilities across the country is to give him a firsthand knowledge of the state of these facilities and the steps that are best to be taken in order to bring them back to glory.
He noted that his focus, in addition, is to ensure the development of sports, right from the grassroots because that is where the talents are.
Part of his strategy to make the sports sector viable is to constantly meet with presidents and secretaries of all the sporting federations in the country with a view to finding solutions to the ailments bedeviling the associations.
He said: “We need to sit down, commit and agree on what we want to achieve with the various federations, and the best way to achieve these targets.”
The minister affirmed that Enoh added that he would pay equal attention to all sports and not only a selected few, adding that he would work towards achieving all targets of the administration.
“Due to my strong passion to succeed, it will do no good for me to take sides. I am approaching this job with an open mind and at all times, I will support the best. The interest of the nation must always come first.
“I am Minister of Sports and not Minister of football or cricket or basketball,” he said
