In a move aimed at harnessing the potentials of students in the area of sport activities, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has enter into partnership with the private sector as a measure to promote sport development and management in the territory.
At the signing of memorandum of understanding between FCT Administration and Ratels Sports Development Foundation, Tuesday, on annual School Sports Festival, Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Olusade Adesola expressed happiness over the partnership, saying that funding of sports without the involvement of private sectors by the government not visible.
According to him, he said involvement of private sectors in funding of sport activities has become a trending things around the world, adding that Nigeria should not be an exemption.
He said, “As a matter of fact, when i was in Youth and Sports, during some of our sports participation abroad, i observed that some of the officials that come from different countries are not really government officials, some are from private sectors hired by those countries.
“So i have to suggest this to my Minister at the Youth and Sports then and it was approved. That was why, when i saw your proposal i was happy about this partnership because government can not fund sports alone.
Earlier, the President and Founder, Ratels Sports Development Foundation, Paul Edeh explained that importance of sports development in schools can not be overemphasized, saying that the best place to catch and groom young stars early through regular sports activities is the school system.
“Today, history is being made as this would be the first time a program of this kind would be conceptualized to host schools festival with private sector for an initial period of 5 years which will guarantee the sustainability and consistency of the programme.
“Our approach to this partnership is not limited to hosting the FCT Schools Sports Festival alone but to groom, monitor, mentor and nurture the talents discovered during the festival.
“The target for the FCT Schools Sports Festival are boys and girls in Primary, Junior and Senior Secondary Schools in the FCT. The event would accommodate the following sporting activities in both male and female categories such as football, basketball, volleyball, athletics, table tennis, badminton, javelin, chess, amongst others.
In his remarks, Secretary, FCT Education Secretariat, Sani Dahir El- Katuzu disclosed that sports has an important role in achieving health targets of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, particularly the goal of increasing physical activities by 15 percent over the next decade.
“This MOU is to impact our student’ s education and health, promote tolerance, discipline and respect as it will help empower our boys and girls.