By Bose Adelaja
President Good luck Jonathan has called on Nigerians both at home and in diaspora to invest in sports development especially as regards sport facilities and building sport academies capable of discovering and developing young talents.

The President who spoke in Abuja through the Secretary to the Federal Government of the Federation, Dr. Anyim Pius Anyim at a sport event to honour men and women of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps NSCDC, also urged the Nigerian team to ensure victory at the upcoming All African Games in Mozambique which begin in September adding that the government will support sports development by creating the enabling environment.

The sole aim of the event was to celebrate and honour Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, sportsmen and women who have been contributing to sports development.

Mr. President also assured the agency that government would encourage an initiative that will assist the corps to develop its sports facilities in order to enhance its capacity in discovering and training potentials.

“It is my belief that today’s event will motivate you and act as a tonic that will spur you to further successes in future competitions. I look forward to the day Nigeria will produce the Carl Lewis and the likes.

In his closing remarks, NSCDC Commandant-General Dr. Adewale Abolurin said, the corps has employed the Nigeria’s fastest male for the year 2011 in the likes of Inspector Ogho-Oghene Egwero, Africa’s fastest woman, 2011 and fourth fastest in the World at large, Inspector Osayomi Damola, and current African Table Tennis Champion , Corporal Aruna Quadri.

“We also have the likes of Inspector Abinu Fatima and Babalola Abdulmumuni who are top seed Tenis players in Nigeria today. In Badminton, we have Inspector Jinkam Iframu,Inspector Olaoluwa Fagbemi and grace Daniel who are also top seed players in Nigerian Badminton.Also renowned weightlifters, Corporal Mirian Usman, and Hadiza Zakari,Nwaokolo Augustina, Onyeka Azike were medalist at the 2010 Commonwealth games to mention but a few.