TheCable

Sunday Dare, minister of youth and sports development, on Thursday, met with sports federation secretaries with a view to ensuring the implementation of the recently approved National Sports Industry Policy.

At the meeting which was held at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, Dare informed the secretaries that the funding and control of sports development would henceforth be handled by both the private and public sectors.

“The funding will be 50-50 between the private sector and government,” he said

The minister also said the new policy would focus on infrastructure, incentives and investment.

“Football, basketball, table tennis, hockey and all other games will no longer be for recreation alone, but for business as well as recreation,” he said.

“No industry can thrive without investment and a lot of investments can be attracted to the sports sector which will not only contribute to the socio-economic development of the country but also create an opportunity for our teeming youth to showcase their sporting talents as well as compete favourably with their counterparts globally.”

While emphasising that government will have zero tolerance for anything untoward among athletes, Dare also assured that a disclaimer would immediately be issued on any athlete found wanting.

Ismaila Abubakar, permanent secretary in the ministry, earlier commended the federal government for approving the policy, saying the sports sector would witness a boom in the shortest possible time.

“The ministry will create an enabling environment for the full implementation of the policy and I call on the secretaries to support government efforts aimed at giving the sports industry a face-lift by taking the right steps to achieve its full implementation,” he said.