Nigeria Content Online

The newly appointed
Minister of Sports and Chairman of the National Sports Commission
(NSC), Taoheed Adedoja has said the country must return to the
grassroots in order to bring back the glory days in sports.

Speaking during his
familiarisation tour to the National Stadium in Lagos, Adedoja said
very little can be achieved if sports is neglected at the grassroots.

“We cannot expect success in sports without grassroots development,” he said.

“Success is not by
good luck alone but by preparation and hard work. If we need to be
successful, we should work hard enough and that starts from the
grassroots. Nothing is done by miracles alone you have to do what is
expected of you to get the desired result.”

New dawn in sports

Adedoja, a former
commissioner for education in Oyo State, promised a new dawn in sports,
adding that the short time he has is enough to turn around the fortunes
of sports.

“I can assure you
that 2011 is the beginning of a new dawn in sports development in
Nigeria. There is not much time but I can achieve the target I have
before myself,” he said.

Adedoja, who
replaced Isa Bio, said he will be happy to be challenged by all about
his contribution to sports after an expected short stay as minister.

“The time is short
but much can still be achieved. I can confirm that Nigeria does not
need a new sports policy, the one in place is more than adequate; what
we need now is the proper implementation of the document so we can
begin to achieve the results we all crave for,” the minister said.

Adedoja also called for the speedy passage of bills,

“The NSC is ready
to develop sports in the country but cannot do that if the laws
establishing it have not properly empowered it to do so. I appeal for
the speedy passage of the bills so we can tackle the issue of sports
development properly.”

The minister added
that Nigeria is blessed with enormous human and material resources and
has the potential of being the world’s greatest sporting country.

Adedoja, who prides
himself as the first Physical Education expert to be appointed as
sports minister in the country, said he is ready to justify the
confident reposed in him.

The minister added
that the apparent waste of the National Stadium, Lagos, will be
reversed during his tenure. The swimming pool at the National Stadium
has been under lock for upwards of 15 years and the pitch was last used
by any of the national teams in 2003.

“This is the first time a professional has been appointed the
minister of sports so nothing less than excellence will be expected
from me,” he concluded.