By Prof. Emmanuel Ojeme

As the year 2010 was rolling away, a wind of change took place at the National Sports Commission, by the appointment of Prof. T.A. Adedoja as its helmsman.

Adedoja

This appointment is very significant because for the first time, a Professor of physical education and sports is given the opportunity to provide leadership.

For the first time also, there is a convergence of professionalism and political considerations in Ministerial appointment at the National Sports Commission. We have had lawyers, engineers and others as Sports Minister, but we have never, to the best of my knowledge, had a Professor of Physical Education as Minister of Sports.

The appointment of Prof. Taoheed A. Adedoja, a physical education Professor, as Minister/Chairman of the NSC speaks volumes about the workings of the mind of Mr. President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

As a Doctor of Philosophy in his own field, as a scholar and academician, he knows very well what professionalism and professionalization of national development endeavours entails.

The thesis of this appointment is that people will do better in their Ministerial portfolios, particularly in sports, if there is a convergence between core Ministerial roles and epistemological background and experience of the Minister.  Mr. President, we salute you for this development. Putting square pegs in square holes is definitely a better metaphor for Nigeria’s development successes.

For a lot of people who may not know the new Minister of Sport, I can assure you that he would deliver. He will not be a trial and error Minister, that shoots from the dark. Fortunately, this Minister is a product of the legendary Isaac Akindayo Akioye philosophical school of sports pragmatism, where he obtained his B.Sc degree in physical education.

He was a constant member of the University of Ife medal topping machine of that era, just as this writer. So, he knows about sports from competitive and personal experiences in addition to studying the subject. He has post – graduate qualifications in Sports studies including a Doctor of Philosophy. He had a successful academic career and is a sublime scholar. He became a professor of physical education and sports more than 18 years ago. He has been Provost of a College of Education. He has been Commissioner for Education. He has been in politics and even a gubernatorial candidate at a time. This Minister is a man of many parts.

What are the major challenges he has to deal with? I volunteer to mention the following:
Legal Status of the NSC

The bill establishing the National Sports Commission has been constipated in the National Assembly since 2007. The Sports Commission as at now is neither a Commission nor Ministry. If it is a Commission, then it must have a board. Completing the formation of the NSC through the passage of this bill into law, is one task, which the Ministers before now, failed to accomplish. Please, do this task and take the trophy.
National Sports Development Policy & Vision 20: 20: 20

These are big policy instruments with little or no penetration, user awareness and adoption. The proper implementation of these policies will lead to systematic sports development in Nigeria.

Collaboration with the Ministry of Education
Sports is more effectively developed when it is entrenched in the school system. Young people need to be introduced to sports and physical education from their primary and secondary school years. Since majority of young people who participate in sports are of school age and are expected to be in school, efforts must be made to ensure that sports and physical education are properly entrenched in schools. Furthermore, the NCCE must stop the annihilation of physical education in Colleges of Education.

The National Institute for Sports (N.I.S)
You will do well to liberate the N.I.S from its civil service clutches. The N.I.S is weak because it is not operating as a full fledged academic and professional institution. Rather, it operates like a civil service training centre. I think that the institute will serve the country better if its status is upgraded to match IITA, N.I.I.A, CRIN among others. Why do we have an N.I.S that is anonymous and says nothing about sports in the public domain? The  programmes and conditions of service of N.I.S all need to be reviewed to energize it. There is something ominous and constraining about the school. Is the N.I.S in chains?

Manpower Development
Sports is notoriously becoming an area of endeavour where some of its operators do not seem to recognize the essence of cognate professional qualifications. I believe that there is a need to ensure that individuals do possess adequate professional training and education suitable for their assigned roles. This is more endemic among persons who are transiting from active sports participation to managerial and leadership roles. If sports remains an essential component of humanity’s cultural life, its affairs cannot be left in the hands of persons that do not understand its epistemology.
Maintenance of sports facilities: The National Stadium, Lagos in focus

The National Stadium in Lagos is abandoned. Former Ministers have visited the place and vowed to put it in order but ended up doing nothing. The national stadium as it is, is an eye sore and does not speak well of our seriousness about sports development. I am personally very sad about it. This was our premier sports infrastructure and now neglected. Let us retrieve and use it well.
Relocation of the NSC to the National Stadium, Abuja

It is my view that the NSC should be where sport is, that is, the National Stadium, Abuja. In its history, the National Sports Commission has always been within the stadium premises. I believe it will do its job better when it is in its natural habitat. The Ghanaian National Sports Council among others is right in the main bowl of Accra National stadium. So, what are we doing in the Federal Secretariat, wearing agbada and suits?
Research and Development

Sports is a research based activity. Its operators must be attending conferences to gain more knowledge about their work. Also, Nigeria must be participating in the scientific congresses of major international sports events as in All Africa Games, Commonwealth Games and the Olympics. We have not been doing this in recent times. I think it is all part of the sports process and programmes of development.
Funding of Sports Federations

The Sports Federations are not properly funded and I doubt how much the concessioning policy is working. There is a need to take momentous steps to fund the Federations to energize their training programme, competitions, enhance athletes’ welfare and recruitment of competent and world class coaches, particularly in boxing, track and field among others.
Hon. Minister, I know you will do your best as you girdle up to tackle these and more challenges. Let us produce results for the nation as Isaac Akioye always said. We must produce results. I know you can and I wish you success.