Sport Nigeria, a new initiative by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) and stakeholders in the country’s sports industry to chart a business-oriented path for sports development in Nigeria, was recently launched in Africa’s largest economy. .
According to stakeholders, Sport Nigeria was created to help add the amount of investment needed to trigger the goals of a repositioned sports industry.
“I am delighted to welcome everyone to the official launch of Sport Nigeria, a private sector led intervention agency established to foster the development of the sports industry in Nigeria,” Asue Ighodalo, NESG President, said at the launch. .
Ighodalo, who was represented by Niyi Yusuf, Vice President of NESG, noted that Sport Nigeria aims to achieve its goals by leveraging and deploying private sector and investment funds across the value chain by implementing strategies to develop the sport as a platform for economic, social, physical and youth development.
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He added that it will complement government sports development efforts at the national and subnational levels.
“The ultimate goal was to ensure the implementation of the repositioning of the sector in an industry and a positive contributor to GDP,” he said.
“Our hope is that Sport Nigeria will actualize its mission to aggregate, facilitate an investment that enables the value chain of sport, and deliver commercial and social benefits to industry stakeholders and consumers by developing local production infrastructure. and distribution for consumption of sports media and entertainment. .”
Similarly, Babatunde Folawiyo, President of Sport Nigeria, said that it was created as a private sector-led bridge to aggregate, facilitate and enable the necessary investment in the sports sector and the achievement of the goals of a sustainable sports industry and vibrant throughout the value chain. in accordance with the guidelines of the country’s sports industry policy.
“The men and women at Sport Nigeria are committed to the process required to fulfill the vision of Nigeria as a sports nation with a vibrant, viable and sustainable sports industry through professional development and management of the entire industry value chain. ”. he said.
Also speaking at the launch, Nkechi Obi, CEO of Sport Nigeria, said that Sport Nigeria will help grow the Nigerian sports industry noting that it will help build the community-based industry in the sports sector by increasing the participation of the private sector.
In his goodwill message, Sunday Dare, Minister for Sports, said the launch is a bold move by the private sector to build a business case for Nigerian sports development.
“The event signals the future of sports development but, more importantly, it takes the bold step necessary to propel everyone into action,” said Dare, who was represented by Henry Nzekwu.
“Government, the private sector, sports stakeholders, sponsors, the international community must respond to emerging opportunities in the sector,” he said.
