By Amaechi Agbo

In Africa Ontology, man can effect a difference in nature. Man can procreate, determine when to give birth to a child but man cannot determine the destiny of the child.

In Africa, a name is not just an identity but defines a destiny. And it is in the light of this that foremost Nigeria novelist, late Professor Chinua Achebe said this about Igbo (Africa) name.

“If you want to know how life has treated an Igbo man, a good place to look is the names his children bear. His hopes, his fears, his joys and sorrows; his grievances against his fellows, or complaints about the way he has been used by fortune; even straight historical records, are all there.”

Today, Nigerians and the global community stand up to celebrate the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Akin Dare as he marks his 54^th birthday.

Among the 53 years he has spent, the past 9 years would be said to be more glorious, glamorous and also daunting. To hold sway as the minister of youth and sports in Nigeria, a ministry known for its unpredictability and hurdles and record most of the success ever seen in the ministry for ages, takes a man of incredible fortitude, forbearance and vision to navigate.

When President Muhammadu Buhari named the erudite, cosmopolitan, versatile, energetic, youthful, suave and Ivy League-educated Sunday Dare as Youths and Sports Minister on August 21, 2019, he was applauded for making the right choice. The excitement generated by Dare’s appointment was hinged on his pedigree as an accomplished international journalist, administrative exposure and experience in public service.

Prior to Dare’s appointment, the belief was that sport was usually the last in the pecking order of merit. Some ex-ministers had laid credence to this with seemingly poor performances and lack of vision that kept Nigerian sports in the archives of past glory and youth development at a crossroads.

Several months down the line, Dare is reinventing the wheels of sports and youth development in Nigeria.

The long years of systemic destruction, failed dreams, poor planning, disillusionment and frustrations have left the terrain comatose and at a crossroads.

Decaying infrastructure, poorly motivated athletes, disgruntled work force, poorly trained coaches, archaic policy and angrily resentful public make the assignment not only herculean, but one that needs ruffling of feathers.

Dare began his assignment by seeking to change the mindset of the workers and the wrong perception of the public that nothing can work in the sector.

For someone from a technologically driven background, Dare had to change the mindset of the ministry staff.
Gradually, in the last six months, the work ethic has changed. With a Permanent Secretary in Gabriel Aduda, who is desirous of breaking away from old tradition, Dare has moved in leaps and bounds. He has restored confidence in the ministry as evidenced in the partnership with the private sector, agencies and international bodies. His first breakthrough was moving away from the narrow scope of being called ‘Football Minister’. Under Dare, Youth and Sports Development have been given a new vista.

He hit the ground running with his Adopt initiative, which has seen corporate organisations, governors and individuals adopting athletes, signing MoUs and paying money directly into their accounts to prepare for the now postponed Tokyo Olympics. This is against the convention where Olympics-bound athletes never had funds to prepare. The ripple effect is that it takes the burden off the athletes, administrators and the coaches.

This ensures transparency and accountability of funds. The Adopt initiative has also led to infrastructural developments with the rehabilitation of stadiums in Abuja, Kaduna and Ibadan through partnerships. This has restored faith in the sports scene.

Sponsors, individuals and others now feel comfortable investing in sports in the belief that there is proper accountability and due process.

The Adopt-A-Stadium initiative is also paying off with the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja to be renovated by Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Daura Township Stadium, Katsina by Chief Kensington Adebutu, and Ahmadu Bello Stadium by Kaduna State Governor Malam Nasir El Rufai. The entire sports spectrum is being revived despite the paucity of funds.

Dare’s master plan is moving sports away from mere recreation to real business anchored on four triggers; infrastructure as catalyst for development, investment, incentives and policy.

Sunday Akin Dare was born on 29 May 1966. He had his secondary school education at Baptist High School in Jos; a city in the Middle Belt of Nigeria from 1978 to 1983, shortly afterwards he studied for an Advanced Level education at Oyo State College of Arts and Science, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. He thereafter gained admission to Ahmadu Bello University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science (BSc.) honours in International Studies in 1991. His quest for knowledge motivated him to delve further to obtain a Master of Arts (MA) in Law and Diplomacy from the University of Jos, Plateau state Nigeria in 1996

Sunday Dare has over two decade of journalism experience spanning over 25 years before 2016 when he was appointed as Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) where he was charged with the responsibility of managing the NCC’s interface with public and private sector stakeholders.

By act of hard work and commitment exemplified, he was in August 2019 nominated by President Mohammadu Buhari as Ministerial designate. And on August 21 same year he was assigned the portfolio of Ministry of Youth and Sports Development after he was cleared by the National Assembly.

Dare is a well decorated professional with numerous award to his name. He has been honoured both locally and internationally, including being recognised as one of the fifty Leading Nigerians during the Nigeria’s Golden Jubilee anniversary celebration in North America.

He also emerged the winner of the Voice of America Meritorious Honour Award 2009 in recognition of his sterling leadership and professional contributions in Africa and diaspora. Additionally, Dare was listed as a member of International Committee to Protect Journalists Citation in 2000 in New York, USA in recognition of his spiritedness as a journalist.

Today, the Nigeria sports and youth ministry celebrates and icon and achiever.

Happy 54^th birthday to you, Mr Sunday Akin Dare, the Honourbale Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Federal Republic of Nigeria.