[Since the exit of Innocent Egbunike, Mary Onyali, Chidi Imoh, Yusuf Alli and few others from athletics, and Henry Nwosu, Segun Odegbami, Adokiye Amasiemaka and the like from football, sports in Nigeria have been in comatose. There hasn’t been any visible development in our sports in the last two decades. Our sportsmen and women these days are more of participant variables in sporting events, than competitors. However, in the words of former Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) president, Dan Ngerem, there seem to be light at the end of the tunnel.According to Ngerem, the return of Patrick Ekeji as director in the Sports Development Department of the National Sports Commission (NSC), would bring back the needed direction in our sports. He said Ekeji’s return would help in reviving the tall ideas the sports administrator had for Nigerian sports before he was schemed out of office after the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.Ngerem, in a chat with Daily Sunsport, noted that only a concerted four-year stay in office would see Ekeji realising his dreams for the country’s sporting sector."The decision to return Patrick Ekeji to the office of director in the Sports Development Department of the NSC is a good omen for Nigerian sports. Having worked with him in my capacity as the president of the AFN, I have the belief that his vision is strong and clear enough to turn things around for the better."Ekeji played in the national team, the Green Eagles. And for someone who has been in sports as a player, as well as an administrator, I’m sure he has the key to our sports revolution."While the 8th All Africa Games was on, I saw the zeal to succeed in Ekeji. He has a vision for Nigerian sports, but he was not allowed to see it to fruition before he was pushed aside by some selfish individuals, who would rather see our sports die than let it grow."Ngerem pointed out that had Ekeji been left to direct our sports from then till now, our elite athletes, who are jostling to represent other countries, would have been falling over each other to represent Nigeria.Ngerem further argued that Nigerian sports administrators have for quite a long time neglected grassroots sports development, and as such, it would take an administrator with a vision to turn things around."Grassroots sports in Nigeria is dead, because no one is paying attention to it. In athletics for instance, we used to have developmental sporting activities, which helped us in hunting and developing talents. That was the way the likes of Mary Onyali, Falilat Ogunkoya and Chidi Imoh were discovered before they went abroad on scholarships."That Gloria Kemasode has emerged as the fastest woman on Nigerian tracks today is only accidental. There has not been any deliberate attempt at grooming athletes with a view of saying that a particular athlete would emerge as champion at a given time," Ngerem stressed.Speaking on Nigeria’s preparations for the 9th All Africa Games in Algiers, Algeria in July, Ngerem noted that he does not understand why our athletes would still be in Nigeria for the Games that is barely less than two months to commence. He stated that our athletes should have been on training tour by now to perfect their strategies for the coming outing."As a patriotic citizen, I strongly pray and hope that Nigeria will do well at the Games in Algiers. But our athletes are not well prepared as it should be. I hope this inadequate preparation would not be used as a yardstick for measuring the new director’s achievement."He pointed out that if given the opportunity to operate effectively, Ekeji would do well in repositioning our sports."As soon as the Algiers 2007 Games are done with, Ekeji should start a four-year sports development road map that will aim at returning Nigeria to the top rung of sporting ladder in the world. Though, it is already too late to bring the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in the scheme, he should, however, endeavour to do his best in seeing Nigeria making an impact at the Olympics."Ngerem, who himself believes in private-sector participation in sports development, noted that Ekeji’s idea of Team Nigeria would forever remain highly commendable."With his understanding that government alone cannot run sports effectively, Ekeji was able to convince corporate organisations to identify with sports during his first tenure in office. It’s not an easy task getting the likes of the Director General of Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE), Dr. Ndi Okereke Onyiuke, to identify with sports in the country. Though she expressed her reservations then, that there was no stability in Nigerian sports, her fears were confirmed when Ekeji was removed from office."However, we need the corporate sector to partner in our sports development, and I know that Ekeji would no doubt make a good attempt at luring people like Ndi Onyiuke back to assist in sports development with the need funds that will oil our sports," he stated.]

Since the exit of Innocent Egbunike, Mary Onyali, Chidi Imoh, Yusuf Alli and few others from athletics, and Henry Nwosu, Segun Odegbami, Adokiye Amasiemaka and the like from football, sports in Nigeria have been in comatose. There hasn’t been any visible development in our sports in the last two decades.

Our sportsmen and women these days are more of participant variables in sporting events, than competitors. However, in the words of former Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) president, Dan Ngerem, there seem to be light at the end of the tunnel.

According to Ngerem, the return of Patrick Ekeji as director in the Sports Development Department of the National Sports Commission (NSC), would bring back the needed direction in our sports. He said Ekeji’s return would help in reviving the tall ideas the sports administrator had for Nigerian sports before he was schemed out of office after the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.

Ngerem, in a chat with Daily Sunsport, noted that only a concerted four-year stay in office would see Ekeji realising his dreams for the country’s sporting sector.
"The decision to return Patrick Ekeji to the office of director in the Sports Development Department of the NSC is a good omen for Nigerian sports. Having worked with him in my capacity as the president of the AFN, I have the belief that his vision is strong and clear enough to turn things around for the better.

"Ekeji played in the national team, the Green Eagles. And for someone who has been in sports as a player, as well as an administrator, I’m sure he has the key to our sports revolution.
"While the 8th All Africa Games was on, I saw the zeal to succeed in Ekeji. He has a vision for Nigerian sports, but he was not allowed to see it to fruition before he was pushed aside by some selfish individuals, who would rather see our sports die than let it grow."

Ngerem pointed out that had Ekeji been left to direct our sports from then till now, our elite athletes, who are jostling to represent other countries, would have been falling over each other to represent Nigeria.

Ngerem further argued that Nigerian sports administrators have for quite a long time neglected grassroots sports development, and as such, it would take an administrator with a vision to turn things around.

"Grassroots sports in Nigeria is dead, because no one is paying attention to it. In athletics for instance, we used to have developmental sporting activities, which helped us in hunting and developing talents. That was the way the likes of Mary Onyali, Falilat Ogunkoya and Chidi Imoh were discovered before they went abroad on scholarships.

"That Gloria Kemasode has emerged as the fastest woman on Nigerian tracks today is only accidental. There has not been any deliberate attempt at grooming athletes with a view of saying that a particular athlete would emerge as champion at a given time," Ngerem stressed.

Speaking on Nigeria’s preparations for the 9th All Africa Games in Algiers, Algeria in July, Ngerem noted that he does not understand why our athletes would still be in Nigeria for the Games that is barely less than two months to commence. He stated that our athletes should have been on training tour by now to perfect their strategies for the coming outing.

"As a patriotic citizen, I strongly pray and hope that Nigeria will do well at the Games in Algiers. But our athletes are not well prepared as it should be. I hope this inadequate preparation would not be used as a yardstick for measuring the new director’s achievement."
He pointed out that if given the opportunity to operate effectively, Ekeji would do well in repositioning our sports.

"As soon as the Algiers 2007 Games are done with, Ekeji should start a four-year sports development road map that will aim at returning Nigeria to the top rung of sporting ladder in the world. Though, it is already too late to bring the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in the scheme, he should, however, endeavour to do his best in seeing Nigeria making an impact at the Olympics."
Ngerem, who himself believes in private-sector participation in sports development, noted that Ekeji’s idea of Team Nigeria would forever remain highly commendable.

"With his understanding that government alone cannot run sports effectively, Ekeji was able to convince corporate organisations to identify with sports during his first tenure in office. It’s not an easy task getting the likes of the Director General of Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE), Dr. Ndi Okereke Onyiuke, to identify with sports in the country. Though she expressed her reservations then, that there was no stability in Nigerian sports, her fears were confirmed when Ekeji was removed from office.

"However, we need the corporate sector to partner in our sports development, and I know that Ekeji would no doubt make a good attempt at luring people like Ndi Onyiuke back to assist in sports development with the need funds that will oil our sports," he stated.

Post Reply

Posted: at 30-05-2007 06:16 PM (16 years ago) | Newbie

ok we shall try it then

Posted: at 27-03-2016 08:55 PM (8 years ago) | Hero

make i sip my lemon tea first....

Posted: at 3-04-2016 07:40 AM (8 years ago) | Hero

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