Ismaila Lere
8 July 2009
Abuja — President Umaru Yar'Adua on Tuesday in Abuja said he was excited to see football legend, Pele. Pele was a member of the delegation of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), led by its President, Mr Jacques Rogge, which paid a courtesy call on Yar'Adua at Aso Villa.
"Let me particularly express my happiness of having the opportunity to meet Pele.
"You know in every human endeavour, God in His infinite mercy produces wonder and that is what He has done in Pele for humanity through sports."
Yar'Adua said that sport was extremely significant in the development of human civilisation and culture.
"I think we have recently realised the importance of sports and we are now beginning to take measures to ensure massive investment in the sector.
"We have also taken steps to ensure that we take sports development to the grassroots," he said.
The president said the Federal Government would soon implement a comprehensive sports development programme in the country and would require the partnership of the IOC and other international bodies.
He said the programme would involve the provision of sports facilities in all communities and local government councils, capacity building as well as funding.
Yar'Adua said that Nigeria would share the programme with other African countries, and pledged his administration's support for the National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) and the IOC.
"Nigeria will do everything possible to contribute its quota to the growth of sports, and meet its responsibilities as a responsible member of both ANOCA and IOC.
"Your visit to Nigeria will serve as a great aspiration and government at all levels will continue to support all efforts of our sports administrators to build sports to an enviable position," he added.
Rogge thanked Nigeria for accepting to host the headquarters of ANOCA and gave assurance that IOC would continue to support Africa and Nigeria, in particular, in the development of sports.
"Africa is a young continent with a large number of young people and young people are the future of mankind; we are committed to supporting them as much as possible," he said.
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