Sports Minister institutes 24 - member Committee for 2014 National Sports Festival

[The InfoStrides]

The Minister of Sports, who is the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bolaji Abdullahi has on Thursday 31st October, 2013 instituted a 24 - member Organising Committee for the 2014 National Sports Festival.    During his speech at the inauguration, the Minister urged the Committee to employ all organisational skills to guarantee seamless events suitable for athletes in the 2014 sports activities scheduled for Calabar in Cross Rivers State.   Bolaji Abdullahi indicated that the 2014 sports festival has been earmarked to be different in content and scope from previous editions; saying it will be open to all athletes of Nigeria dissent and will be more challenging to the organizing committee.    Abdullahi lamented that despite improvements in the standard of organization and the number of sports events, the National Sports Festival which is Nigeria's version of the Olympics Games has over the years been roped in fiscal reliance. He added that the sports fiesta has been totally reliant on funds from hosting states and the federal government, describing the situation as prevalent in all sports development activities in the country.   He urged privileged Nigerians, private organizations and corporate bodies to support the National Sports Federation by utilizing it as avenue to publicise their products.    The Cross Rivers State Deputy Governor, Efiok Cobham in his remarks, commended the Sports Minister for his efforts at repositioning sports in Nigeria. "With these reforms, Nigeria is on the way back to excellence in sports," he said. He expressed the State Government's assurance that the 2014 festival tagged: "Paradise Games" will present befitting and spectacular games.   The members of the Organising Committee sworn in were:  Gbenga Elegbeleye – Chairman; Members - Efiok Cobham (Deputy Governor of  Cross River State), Sani Ndanusa (President IOC),   Monday Emoghavwe O(President Paralympic Committee of Nigeria), NSC Director of HRM&F), NSC of FEAD, NSC Director of Grassroots, NSC Director of  Facility & Student Development), NSC Director of Sports Planning, Research and Documentation; NSC Director of Medical Services, NSC Director of NIS, NSC Director of Press, Sports Commissioner in  Cross River State; NSC Legal Adviser, Kwara State Director of Sports, Kayode Omotosho, Kunbi Titiloye, Khaleel Bolaji, Banji Alabi, Godwin Dudu Orumen, Paul Bassey and Ogungbenro John Kunle; Emmanuel Igbinosa (Secretary), Jude Amadi,  Director of Sports in  Cross River State  (Asst. Secretary).