Senate Advocates More Funding For Sports Devt

By James Itodo

The Senate has called on the Federal Government for adequate budgetary allocation to sporting activities in the country.

The chairman, Senate committee on sports, Senator Kawu Sumaila who made the call as a result of harvest of Awards made by Nigerian Sports men and Women from the CAF Award in Morocco last Sunday, stressed that it was a wake up call for more investment in Sports.

Senator Kawu Sumaila in a statement describes the Awards “as bold and big statements made on behalf of Nigeria by the winners”.

In the CAF Awards, Victor Osimhen won Men African Player of the Year Award, Asisat Oshoala, won Women African Player of the year Award, Chiamaka Nnadozie won Best Goalkeeper of the year and Super Falcons won the best Women National Team Award .

Accordingly the Senate through its Sports Committee congratulated President Bola Tinubu ,the Minister of Sports, Senator John Owan Enoh and Nigeria Football Federation ( NFF) , on the feats recorded by Nigerians from the Awards .

Senator Sumaila in the statement also describes the harvest of Awards by Nigerians as a new dawn for sports in the country under the ‘ Renewed Hope ‘ Agenda of President Tinubu .

The statement reads : ” By this clean sweep of awards by our son, Victor Osimhen, our daughters Asisat Oshoala, Chiamaka Nnadozie and the entire Super Falcons Team, we in the Senate Committee will leverage on the success for Nation building.

” We stand to be corrected, no sector has done Nigeria this proud . No sector has brought Nigeria honour and glory more than sports . This is the more reason for the development of the sector in making it one of the strongest pillars for diversification of the Nation’s economy.

” We will not encourage the handshake policy of the past to be used for those who have done us the new honours but ensure that those who deserve to be rewarded are handsomely rewarded to serve as an encouragement for others to strive to be the best “.

Edited By Grace Namiji