By Bashir Bello
The former Minister of Sport and Special Duties, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja has opened up on why Nigeria is yet to get it right in the area of sports development.
Adedoja said the country’s sports development has been politicised and appointments into its ministerial position were not based on professionalism.
He stated this during the opening ceremony of the National Conference organised by the National Association for Physical, Health education, recreation, sports and dance (NAPHER-SD) held in Bayero University, Kano (BUK), on Thursday.
Adedoja, who is the Chairman of occasion, said out of the 35 sports ministers appointed since independence in the country, he was the only professional in sports development.
“The foundation for any sports development in any country you know is physical education. But we are missing the point in this country.
“Since Nigeria gained independence, Nigeria had 35 Sports Ministers, I became one, and at the time I became minister for sports and later added special duties by the President Jonathan.
“Among the 35 Ministers of sports in Nigeria, I was the only professional in sport developments who was appointed.
“Nigeria cannot make it in sports development unless it recognises the importance of employing people in this area for sports development.
“Sports development in Nigeria has been over politicised and that is why we are not getting it right. No continuity of policy,” he said.
Adedoja who was also the pioneer Head of Department of Physical and Health Education, BUK, said Physical Education has grown from one man department to five departments and providing the students with opportunities for employment.
He said the students are not in the wrong profession because they contribute to the development of the nation.
The President of the association, Prof. Florence Bola-Adeyanju, appealed to the government to work closely with the association to improve the dwindling situation around sports in the country.
She said the conference was taking place at a critical moment when the nation and global community are demanding for greater transparency, integrity and accountability.
She said the three sectors are important to the development of the human capital and national well-being.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of BUK, Prof. Haruna-Musa, represented by the Dean, Faculty of Education, Dr Abubakar Ibrahim-Hassan, said the event is historic.
He described the theme of the event as timely, noting that transparency, integrity and accountability is a challenge in the society where all have been eroded in the values and life of the people.(NAN)