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By Amaechi Agbo

The minister of youth and sports development, Sunday Dare has stated that the adoption campaign launched by the ministry in December remains the heartbeat of sports development in the country, Bestchoicesports.com.ng can report.

The minister who disclosed this in Abuja while interacting with newsmen on Friday noted that the life span of the campaign policy initiated under his administration will be long adding that efforts has been put in place to ensure that beyond the 2020 Olympic Games, the policy will be sustained and remain vibrant.

Mr Dare while acknowledging the importance of private partnership in sports further disclosed that from december 2019 till Friday February 21^st, 2020 14 athletes have been adopted.

“Adoption campaign initiative has come at a time that it is most needed for our sports development. Between December and now, we have seen a lot of response from corporate bodies and individuals. Our athletes have been really excited because they are getting the support of fund that are going directly to them.

“We are structuring a relationship that is organic between the adopter and the athlete. As we speak, about 14 of our athletes, home-based and foreign have been adopted, MoUs have been signed and we will sign a couple more.  The monies are going directly to the personal accounts of the athletes and they are acknowledging it.

“What we intend to do is that beyond the Olympics, the adopt initiative remains an integral part of our sports development. Like we said, the welfare of our sports men and women is critical; they need grant, financial support for training, to pay their coaches and for medication. These are constant needs and there should be constant support. Whatever government is going to provide, completes what is going to come out of the adoption programme,” he said.