President Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF), Engr Musa Nimrod, believed the development of sports at all levels will bring the desired national cohesion and unity for the country.
He stated this while fielding questions from Journalists on the way forward for Nigeria’s sporting federations.
He said: “Sporting activities are the most unifying factor in the world today but it is unfortunate that most governments at local, state and federal levels are oftentimes paying lip service to funding of this important sector.”
While commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the budgetary provision for both Ministries Youth and Sports Development, NVBF boss noted that youth takes most of the budget leaving sports with little or nothing to develop the sector.
“I sincerely want to appeal to President Tinubu to increase the budgetary provision for sports development even though the budget has been signed into law, particularly now that 2024 has a lot of local and international sporting events across the globe.
“The sporting calendar for 2024 starts January 4 with the Volleyball Federation zone 3 Africa games qualification in Lagos, another volleyball championship in Ghana on the 18th and Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast where our Super Eagles will be participating and the Paris Olympics Games.”
The experienced sports administrator urged players wearing Nigeria’s Green-White-Green to see it as an honor that should spur them to put in their best.
“Whenever you are in the green-white-green color of Nigeria and the national anthem is played, you feel the Nigerian you are. I urged the players representing Nigeria to play for pride and honor,” stressing that only God can reward them for their service to their fatherland.
Engr Nimrod further commended Governor Ahmadu Fintiri for budgeting over six billion naira for Adamawa State Ministry of Youth and Sports and urged him to approve the construction of the abandoned Sports Complex along Numan road. “We in the private sector and other Adamawa people with goodwill will also support to ensure that the state has a befitting stadium,” he assured.
