Sports, A Tool For National Cohesion- Information Minister

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris has promised to forge national cohesion through the integration of programmes that will foster unity leveraging on the potential in sports.

He made the promise in Abuja when the Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Enoh paid him a visit in Abuja.

Alhaji Idris stressed that the Ministry is not only saddled with the dissemination of information but also to ensure proper orientation for the nation to remain an indivisible entity.

The Minister said sports had long served as a unifying force that transcends boundaries and brings people together irrespective of religious, ethnic or political inclinations.

According to him “There is also something I think that we need to talk about and that is the issue of national integration and cohesion that all of us are aspiring to achieve”.

“As you look forward to the ministry to partner with you to pursue sports development, we also look forward to the Ministry of Sports Development to forge further national unity and cohesion.

He stressed further, “If you are in doubt of what sports can do for our country, just try to be on the streets when Nigeria is playing. Everybody forgets about North-South, South-West, North-East and North-whatever. Everybody comes together and nobody talks about the person who has scored whether he’s from my village or he’s from another village. Everybody talks about Nigeria; everyone wears the Nigerian flag on that day.”

The Minister said in a demonstration of his unprecedented support for sports development in the country, President Tinubu took a decisive action to offset about N12 billion in salary and allowances arrears owed to sportsmen and women as well as sports administrators in order to motivate them to commit themselves to the country.

He commended the Minister of Sports, Senator Enoh, for the enthusiasm he has displayed so far in the development of sports in the country particularly the dazzling performance of the Super Eagles at the 2023 AFCON, preparations for the 2024 Olympics and qualification of the Super Falcons for the sports fiesta in Paris, the relaunch of the Challenge Cup as the President’s Federation Cup and the elevation of Super Eagles in the FIFA ranking from 42nd position to the 30th position.

Earlier, the Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Enoh, said synergy between the two Ministries would encourage national participation through the broadcast media.

He suggested a calendar for sporting events as a guide for public media organs to amplify them for visibility.

While mentioning the National Sports Festival coming up this year in Ogun State, and the National Youth Games in Asaba as some of the major events coming up this year, the Minister added that the Ministry would not relent in its effort to ensure that the lost glory of the sporting sector is restored towards attracting global economic competitiveness.

Florence Adewale, Edited By Grace Namiji