2022 budget: Dare seeks improved funding for sports

The Minister of Youth and Sports Development Sunday Dare has advocated for an improved funding for sports as Nigeria prepares to organize and  participate in several domestic and international competitions in 2022.  He made this known when he appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Sports Development in Abuja to defend the N193,315,083,317 budgeted […]

The Minister of Youth and Sports Development Sunday Dare has advocated for an improved funding for sports as Nigeria prepares to organize and  participate in several domestic and international competitions in 2022. 

He made this known when he appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Sports Development in Abuja to defend the N193,315,083,317 budgeted for sporting activities for 2022. 

“Without mincing words, participation in national, continental and International competitions which have brought much glory and goodwill to the country is capital intensive. The reality is that the Ministry has been greatly challenged in prosecuting these activities owing to its very slim overhead. 

“The financial requirements of our 42 national sports federations as submitted by them cannot be completely accommodated within the overhead budget envelope of the Ministry. 

“The activities of these federations are instrumental to our participation in International sporting events. These huge financial requirements further underscore the need to accord the Ministry enhanced funding,” Dare pleaded. 

Dare further bemoaned the lack of professionalism in the domestic League while seeking for some legislation to improve the league. 

“We all have to get involved and even get some legislation to back us up before we can begin to see changes.

“The structure of our clubs needs to change if we want to see fans fill up the stands at our stadia to watch our domestic games. Most of our clubs are government owned and professionalism is not a priority,” he lamented