Don’t dump sports festival because of money, Ekeji tells Edo

By George Aluo

Former Director General of the now defunct National Sports Commission (NSC), Dr Patrick Ekeji has called on Edo state not to dump the national sports festival because financial support is not coming her way from the federal government.

Ekeji who shared his thoughts exclusively with newstap.com.ng noted that Edo should rather seek other ways of getting sponsorship support for the games, even as he added that steps should also be taken to cut down the cost of hosting.

In Ekeji’s words…”What nature of funding does Edo State expect from the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports? There’s need for clarity here. As far as I know, the Sports ministry is financially responsible for financial logistics of all Technical Officials invited by the concerned Federations,  Ministry Officials connected with the Festival and Guests of the Ministry. All other aspects of the program are to be underwriten by the host State. These other aspects include, but not limited to: transportation, security, medical, Games village accommodation and feeding, entertainment. Does Edo State Government expect the federal ministry of Youth and Sports to fund these? Perhaps the question should be; what nature of funding does Edo State expect from Abuja? I do not know the commitments required by the Sports ministry before the festival was awarded to Edo however by the time I bowed out, conditions to host were clearly defined. From what I read so far, something is not clear.”

Ekeji stressed that Edo should at this point look inwards for other ways to fund the sports fiesta.

“Why is Edo State not looking inwards and beyond Abuja to get on with the festival?What stops Edo from proposing downward review in the number of sports thus Athletes and Officials participating? Again, Team Sports could be revised to zonal representation. These done the Governor himself, Gov Obaseki could lead, in union with the minister a last minute drive for sponsors. And he certainly will get a lot of support thereto. This is not rocket science,” Ekeji who midwifed Team Nigeria as NSC DG stated.