)
Millions of Nigerians will troop out on Saturday to elect the successor of President Muhammad Buhari.
Nigerians will vote for a successor to Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday, February 25.
Political veterans Bola Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar will represent the two major parties, the All Progressive Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), respectively, while relative outsider Peter Obi of the Labour Party is gaining traction, making it a three-way race.
Although football may be the most popular sport in the country, we cannot deny the fact that Nigeria has talented athletes in many other sports.
)
Going through the manifestos of the politicians, especially the top three, they don't address the growth of athletes. The top three contenders' sports plans are as follows:
Tinubu vows to return school sports and grassroots sports
The Presidential Candidate of the All-Progressive Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has vowed to return to school sports and grassroots sports.
)
Sports are mentioned 14 times in the APC's 80-page manifesto.
The manifesto unveiled further that they will create an enabling environment for sports to thrive as a business.
The Manifesto read, “Provide the opportunities for youths to realize, harness, and develop their full potentials and to facilitate the emergence of a new generation of citizens committed to the sustenance of good governance and service to the people and the country.
)
“We will unleash the potential and talent of our youth in different sports through a dynamic training and funding approach that will upgrade the standard of our sports development. The return of school sports and grassroots sports will be made the cornerstone of our sports development policy.
“Towards achieving a coordinated sports development program, we will create an enabling environment for sports to thrive as a business. The New National Sports Industry Policy, (NISP) will be fully implemented. Incentives will be provided to attract private-sector investments and participation in sports infrastructural development.
“Sports development in all its facets will be made a priority item under a Tinubu government with an increase in funding. A Sports Code of Governance will also be developed to ensure compliance with set goals and objectives. Modern sporting infrastructure will be developed in each of the six geopolitical zones of the country to elevate our sporting standards.”
)
“Establish world-class sports academies and training institutes and ensure that Nigeria occupies a place of pride in global sports and athletics. Schools and communities will also be mandated to create playgrounds/sports centers with needed equipment to develop skills.”
Atiku promises to give priority to minor sports
In his manifesto, PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar stated that he will prioritize minor sports.
Atiku dedicated two pages to sports in his manifesto and vowed to improve the sports facilities in the country.
)
He added that he will use sports to unite Nigerians and give opportunities to people with disabilities.
He said, “In Nigeria, the sports sector is faced with a series of challenges, including inadequate harnessing of opportunities present in sports, inadequate attention to minority sports, under-funding, and politicisation of sports and poor management.
)
“The revamp will be addressed by the improvement of sporting facilities in all the states of the country; diversify into the promotion of minority sports to give Nigeria a better chance of winning international laurels, encourage the sport sector as a job and wealth creation platform; promote sport as a mechanism for national unity and foreign policy, and partner with the private sector to open sports academies for persons with disabilities that will operate across the regions.”
Obi plans to revive Sports through Private and Public Relationship
The Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi, who has proven to be the third force going into tomorrow's polls, promised Nigerians that he would revive sports through private and public relationships.
)
Peter Obi said, “Marshall plan-type programme on education that incorporates compulsory technical and vocational skills, sports, entrepreneurship, programming, and digital skills from the primary to the secondary level.
“We will facilitate both public and private sector investments to reactivate and reposition our sports sector to become globally competitive. The sports ministry shall be strengthened to attract investments through blended financial mechanisms towards developing sporting talents, revamping sporting facilities and recreation centres across the nation.
)
“We will work with state governments to introduce state leagues in key sports, such as football and basketball, to enhance the growth and professionalisation of grassroots sports. This would create thousands of jobs for the youth.”
Without the highs that athletes brought to Nigeria, the country's history would be incomplete. Nigerian athletes have raised the country's flag high in international competitions.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)