Sports ministry to launch policy targeting growth ’from recreation to business’

Sunday Dare, minister of youth and sports development, says a revised national sports industry policy will soon be launched to introduce business models for the sector.

Dare spoke on Tuesday when he received a draft copy of the policy from the sports industry working group (SIWG) in Abuja.

SIWG, which was set up in February 2020, is mandated to unlock the potentials of the nation’s sports industry.

The minister said the policy will accelerate the development of the sports sector from recreational to business.

He added that the upcoming policy will not only add value to the talents of athletes but change the face of running sports business in Nigeria.

“This policy no doubt is a new dawn that will drive the process of moving sports away from being recreational to business,” Dare said.

“On behalf of the federal ministry of youth and sports development, I congratulate all members of the committee for this giant stride, your commitment, dedication and doggedness to bring this draft sports policy to reality. Your efforts are highly appreciated.

“I recall the opportunity I had during the 25th Nigerian Economic Summit, to chair its Sports Industry Business Roundtable Session. The session featured various speakers from all sectors emphasizing the challenges in developing sports as a viable business sector capable of attracting investments and delivering returns to investors.

“This gave birth to setting up various groups to review our 2009 sports policy which no doubt is now obsolete.

“However ​the draft National Sports Industry Policy is a review of the 2009 and 2018 editions and the exercise is principally intended to update the norms and values in the sports industry in achieving the mandate, vision and mission of the Federal Ministry of Youth and sports Development in line with international best practices, and most importantly, to inject a business model into our sports development.”

He added that the policy will proffer solutions to four areas, namely; infrastructure, investment, incentives and policy.