BY RAYMOND NWADUBA
Sports has the potential to be a major Gross Domestic Product (GDP) provider in Nigeria if well managed and effectively run as a business rather than seen as a mere recreation.
But regrettably, many of those saddled with the responsibility of driving the sector in the country, has since not realised that like oil, the sector is a goldmine, a multi billion industry which has the capacity to become Nigeria’s number one forex earner if well exploited or taken advantage of particularly as the nation seeks to diversify her economy from a monothetic or mono -product economy to a multi- stream or mixed economy.
However, this can’t be achieved without a decent framework or plan that must be backed by law. Nigeria has to be very intentional and deliberate about this to succeed, given that those who found themselves there have made it their fortress, which they are not willing to let go despite not having the know -how to drive the sector progressively. They have become cult figures inimical to sports development in Nigeria.
Truth be told, the sports ecosystem currently is marred by untold corruption, incompetence and mediocrity which is while the sector has remained down for so long despite its huge potential.
Therefore to break the circle or chain require political will as they will fight back dirty with everything they have to protect their parochial interest at the detriment of national interest.
Take football for instance, the country is at the verge of not qualifying for two successive world cups despite the abundant talent available both within and outside the country. How they have been blame game with some Nigerians blaming the players for lack of commitment on their part, with others calling for the resignation of the football authorities is a story for another day.
The outburst of track queen, Tobi Amusan where she called out the sports administrators in a recent viral video at the ongoing World Athletics Championship is yet to settle. Beyond the damage control stories which followed thereafter, a point was made and It’s certain many know the truth irrespective of efforts to conceal it.
The return of National Sports Commission by President Bola Tinubu abolishing the Ministry of Sports/Youth Development was applauded by many who sang hosanna for the initiative. They actually started well with a lot of zest but the recent power play between them and elected federation heads coupled with tales of unpaid allowances/bonuses still surfacing showed that certainly it’s not yet uhuru.
Therefore for sports to attain its full potential in the country, governments at all level must withdraw their support to particularly the elite sports in Nigeria such as football, athletics, basketball, boxing etc. These sports can always ,, fund themselves if well managed.
But rather than seek corporate sponsorship, these administrators prefer to wait for government handouts or in most cases go cap in hand to beg government for support. The reason for this is very simple. Lack of accountability, transparency and trust issues will not allow corporate organizations dole out their funds to them because no sane organization will want to do business with a corrupt system. You must account for how corporate sponsor’s money is spent with regular public publication of accounts, whereas government funds are seen as freebies, bazaar which they can easily contrive to have the funds retired without much ado.
Nigeria sports need business oriented bright minds with proven track records not wolves who eat up what has been entrusted to them without any idea on how to improve or develop the sport.
