Dare plans big for Nigerian athletes

By George Aluo

Sports minister, Sunday Dare is planning big for Nigerian athletes, declaring that the present situation where they hardly get funds needed for training would soon be a thing of the past.

Dare who spoke when he met members of the Nigerian Olympics Association (NOA) in his Abuja office said the sports ministry would set up a special fund for athletes.

In his words…”We intend to set up a special fund for atheletes  which would  provide funds for training,  facilities  and credit line. We shall create opportunities for  our sports people to thrive.”

The minister stressed that he would work more closely with the nation’s Olympians insisting that they must mentor the country’s future stars, even as he added that this informs why he is paying special attention to grassroots sports.

“The gold is in  the  child, I have  made  this statement repeatedly because the grassroots sports  is where the talent can be discovered and nurtured to stardom. I believe in grassroots which is why principal cup is one of my projects to revalidate grassroots sports.  We have started  a nursery  for development  of our sports. As Olympians, your legacies can only last  when you are able to groom  new Olympics  medalists. You must mentor younger atheletes.  If we organize an Olympics  camp once in a year where young people will train, it would attract  a large number  of young  people,” Dare stated.

In his response, President of the  Nigerian  Olympians Association, Olumide Oyedeji said the aims  and objectives  of the association amongst others, include relating with government and the sports Ministry to take Nigerian  sports to higher  grounds and assisting sports  men and women to reach their potentials.