By Seun Adams
In his avowed commitment to the development of sports across the country, the Minister of Sports, Senator John Enoh, on Wednesday undertook inspection tour of centre of Nigeria’s Sports Hall of Fame, which houses the names and portraits of sports heroes and heroines in the country.
At the inspection tour of the centre, which is situated at the Main bowl of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, the Minister restated government’s commitment to athletes’ welfare saying that the Ministry was ready to key into any initiative that will contribute, not only to the growth and development of sports in Nigeria but also the welfare of athletes who have made the nation proud, both in the past and present.
Enoh, stated further that the Ministry was determined to set up a proper Hall of Fame for our sports men and women that will meet up the international standard in line with the policy thrust of the present administration.
The Minister informed that he decided to visit the gallery to see things for himself and to further ascertain what needs to be done so as to ensure that the Hall of Fame properly warehouses those priceless memorabilia where people can come and see them.
Enoh, who explained that sports is the most unifying sector in the country, assured that the President Bola Tinubu-led Administration is committed to the development of the sector not only for recreational purposes but also to provide jobs for our teeming youth thereby alleviating poverty in the country.
He stated that Nigeria will ever remain grateful to these sports icons who made it possible for heŕ to be recognised amongst the comity of sporting nations, adding: “We will ever remain grateful to our athletes, especially those who raised the country’s flag high through podium finishes, thus providing us opportunity of joining the comity of sporting nations.” he said.
Enoh, who commended the initiative, called on the management of the centre to avail him with proper briefing on the Sports Hall of Fame to enable the Ministry look into possible areas of broadening the scope of the project for socio-economic development of the nation.
Speaking earlier, President of Sports Hall of Fame Foundation, Mr. Nicholas Kwanta, said Nigeria needs to celebrate her athletes in order to encourage more people to go into sports.
He informed that many great athletes who had made the country proud in their active time have been forgotten because the country was not keeping records of her athletes’ achievements, stressing that many achievements by Nigerian athletes have not been documented over the years.
Kwanta stated that the project was an initiative aimed at heralding as well as preserving the contributions of sports heroes and heroines to the development of the country.
He therefore called for the Ministry’s support in ensuring the realization of this feat, adding that keying into the initiative will boost athletes’ performance, both in their present and future performances.
