Sports Ministry Push For Polo Development IN Nigeria

The Ministry of Sports Development will provide support for Polo, to the extent in which it carries everyone along, not just the wealthy.

This was made known in a meeting called by the Honorable Minister of Sports Development Senator John Enoh with the leadership of the Nigeria Polo Federation (NPF), held on the 15th of November 2023.

In a bid to address various sports based on their prominence in various zones of the country.

The Sports Minister identified Polo as a sport which receives more attention, support and enthusiasm from the Northern part of the Nigeria.

Given the drive for grassroot sports development, social inclusion and the economic development trajectory of this administration’s sports sector of Nigeria, the Minister said:

“We need to go to the North to encourage and develop the game of polo,given that the  followership of polo is centered in that zone of the country.

The ministry will be involved in all sports to the degree of its social inclusiveness,where majority of those involved cut across all stratification of society,regardless of class or political status”.

He also stated that the Ministry is willing to work with the NPF, and immediately called for an Admin secretary to be posted to the NPF,in an effort to give a seamless partnership for the actualisation of goals.

The minister challenged the president and Executive of the NPF to bring initiatives for the development of Polo sports in Nigeria.

He called for a content document from the NPF team which shows clearly how youth inclusiveness can be achieved, and Foreign investors brought in.

“Due to the demand for more private sector  involvement,a National Polo playground can be achieved”.

The President of the Nigeria Polo Federation Nura Kangiwa, Turakin Kebbi gave insight into the game in Nigeria.

He mentioned that Nigeria is one of the largest Polo playing country’s in the world,with 27 clubs, 33 Polo fields and over 750 players, albeit there are challenges the  game faces  in Nigeria.

“Polo is seen to be a game of the rich,but this is an assumption.Most of the players are sponsored” the president”.

Throwing light on some set backs faced by the Federation, the president of the NPF stated;

“The Federation needs a National playing ground and fields for play,as most of those in existence are privately owned and associations owned besides Kaduna state owning one.

Nigeria can host international tournaments and even the Polo World Cup if we have a National playing ground”.

Kangiwa further said the African Horse Sickness (AHS) keeps foreigners away from bringing their ponies into Nigeria to bask in the warmth of the sun for their nurturing as those ponies are threatened to death with the diseases, a means in which Senegal uses to attract  foreign players and their ponies.

He appealed for the government to take measures towards the eradication of AHS and its likes as this reduces foreign investments in Nigeria.

Senator John Enoh in his response on the African Horse Sickness (AHS) said;

“The Federal Ministry of Sports Development will partner with relevant ministries and agencies ,from the Ministry of Environment and others to make the country safe for Ponies to come in and bask in the warmth of Nigeria “.

Abdul Karim Jibril the Vice President of the NPF added that the Federation needs government support in the area of training for match officials and players.

Other members of the NPF delegation include Sarkin Malaman Zazzay(Ex-oficio), Abba Sani Kanguwa and Joseph Karim (PRO)