Vanguard (Lagos)
Akeem Oyetunji
10 December 2003
Abuja — THE Federal Government has enjoined the Super Eagles players on the need to put patriotic feeling above personal matters in the pursuit of next year's Nations Cup challenge in Tunisia and to consolidate on Nigeria's leadership position in African sports.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, (SGF) Chief Ufot Ekaete, conveyed this message yesterday at the opening ceremony of a two-day seminar on the theme Sports: A tool for National Development at the Ladi Kwali hall, Abuja Sheraton Hotels and Towers.
Chief Ekaette urged the players to exhibit high level of discipline and to show class in Tunisia so that the Nations Cup could come to the country reminding them of the feat recorded by Team Nigeria at the 8th All Africa Games held in Abuja.
The seminar organized by the Sports and Social Development Ministry the SGF noted would go a long way in fashioning out a way forward for Nigerian sports and thus, called on participants to come up with a good working document.
Earlier, the Sports Minister, Col. Musa Mohammed in his welcome address had said that the seminar was being organized "to capitalize on the outstanding performance of our athletes at the just concluded 8th All Africa Games at which Nigeria topped the medals table for the first time in 30 years".
The seminar which focuses on sports development at the grassroots he observed would assist in identifying talents that could replace the ageing athletes we parade now adding that, there should be plans for the retiring ones.
In his words, "the seminar will equally focus on such issues as sports development at the grassroots level and how to catch them young. This strategy is very essential to enable us replace our present day heroes whose stock is fast depleting.
"Young talents need to be identified, encouraged, nurtured and developed into successful athletes with bright promising future. This should also include provisions of plan of action to take care of our athletes, such that, even after active phase of their sporting life, they can be productively engaged in other spheres of human endeavour."
Present at the opening ceremony were former Sports Minister, Chief Alex Akinyele and Dr. Emeka Omerua, former Director General in the Ministry, Alahji Babayo Shehu among others.
Papers will be presented on different topics while eminent persons such as the Publisher of TodaySports Paul Bassey, former Technical Director of in NFA, Kashimawo Laloko and our own Editorial Board member, Ikeddy Isiguzo have been listed as discussants.
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