Why Nigeria is failing in sports development — Ex-sports minister

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A former Minister of Sports and Special Duties, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, has opened up on why Nigeria is yet to get it right in sports development.

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Adedoja said the country’s sports development had been politicised and appointments to ministerial positions had not been based on professionalism.

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He stated this during the opening ceremony of the National Conference organised by the National Association for Physical, Health Education, Recreation, Sports and Dance (NAPHER-SD), held at Bayero University, Kano (BUK), on Thursday.

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Adedoja, who was the chairman of the occasion, said that out of the 35 sports ministers appointed since independence, he was the only professional in sports development.

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“The foundation for any sports development in any country you know is physical education. But we are missing the point in this country.

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“Since Nigeria gained independence, Nigeria had 35 Sports Ministers, I became one, and at the time I became minister for sports and later added special duties by the President Jonathan.

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“Among the 35 Ministers of sports in Nigeria, I was the only professional in sport developments who was appointed.

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“Nigeria cannot make it in sports development unless it recognises the importance of employing people in this area for sports development.

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“Sports development in Nigeria has been over politicised and that is why we are not getting it right. No continuity of policy,” he said.

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Adedoja, who was also the pioneer Head of Department of Physical and Health Education at BUK, said Physical Education had grown from a one-man department to five departments, providing students with opportunities for employment.

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He said the students were not in the wrong profession because they contributed to the development of the nation.

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The President of the association, Prof. Florence Bola-Adeyanju, appealed to the government to work closely with the association to improve the dwindling situation in sports in the country.

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She said the conference was taking place at a critical moment when the nation and the global community were demanding greater transparency, integrity and accountability.

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She said the three sectors were important to the development of human capital and national well-being.

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Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of BUK, Prof. Haruna-Musa, represented by the Dean, Faculty of Education, Dr Abubakar Ibrahim-Hassan, said the event was historic.

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He described the theme of the event as timely, noting that transparency, integrity and accountability were challenges in a society where all had been eroded in the values and lives of the people.

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