The minister of youth and sports, Sunday Dare has commended the governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa for his pragmatism in sports development in not only the state but the entire country, Besthcoicesports.com.ng can report.

Mr Dare gave the commendation during the 2020 National Council on Sports, NCS meeting held in Asaba, the Delta state capital the Delta state where he thanked the Governor for hosting the Council at short notice and promised a new dawn for sports development.

Speaking on Friday at the opening of the NCS, Mr. Dare said “What is the council without the presence of the all states. Delta State has made this possible at short notice following the #ENDSARS protests which made Lagos to pull out. Delta has once again proved that it is sports loving state. 

“After 14 months as Minister, I realised that we need to do a lot to further develop our sports. Nigeria has huge potentials which must be explored to the fullest. We want a change beyond just attending competition. Sports Development means Grassroots Development, infrastructural development, Athletes welfare and business.  We want to change the orientation that sports is play so that we can have the right template.

“Postponement of the National Sports Festival was one of the toughest decision due to covid-19 lockdown.  It was timely, we thank God that we all survived it and very soon we look forward to hosting the Festival.

“Edo 2020 engages my mind because of the passion, opportunities  it affords our youth. We desire that this takes place this year. We can work out the modalities, consult PTF and go to the President for final approval. If we are able to host the festival, it would engage  our youths .

“We need to engage our youths  through the Unity Cup. We already started it in Oyo and saw the passion  by the youth. We plan to have Kano, Kwara and Delta Unity Cup.  Each state would be at liberty to decide the sports they have most interest in.

“The Principal’s Cup would be national; it is also going to involve other sports. We must align our development to what is obtainable in other parts of the world. We need sporting facilities in our states. We are approaching the Federal Government for a bailout fund to put most pf the abandoned facilities back. We also plan to build mini sports centres in all part of the country.  Those that already have would be given facelift,” the minister said.