Sports minister, Barrister Solomon Dalung has charged the various federations and associations governing events in the country to ensure they take up viable identities by becoming incorporated entities.
While adding that the federal government will no longer allow for any form of excesses by sports federation, Dalung stressed that they all have to become corporate entities in the bid to broaden the sector.
Sports247.ng reports that Dalung stated further during the convocation and 25th anniversary of Nigeria Institute of Sports (NISports) at Lagos National Stadium, Surulere.
Although Dalung stressed that the federal government cannot continue directly funding sports in the country, Dalung pointed out that the sports ministry will still have to give out grants, because they cannot completely take their hands of supporting the federations financially.
However, the minister expatriated that government’s monetary role in sports will now be directly to the welfare of athletes and coaches, as they move to refocus sports and curtail excesses of the federations.
He pointed out that, once the sports federations are registered, it would give corporate bodies and the private sector confidence to invest in the scheme of things, which would complement the efforts of government.
Dalung posited: “In sports development, the welfare of the athletes is sacrosanct, so the administration will now focus more on the welfare of the players, athletes and coaches.
“The democratisation of the sports includes the federations drafting their constitutions, endorsed by their congresses, and also registering with the Corporate Affairs Commission.
“(Saying) once the federations are registered, government can no longer fund them is not true.
“There is nowhere in the world that sports is not funded by government. In countries like the UK and US, they still give grants to develop sports.
“What we are saying is that, for them to enjoy the support of the private sector, they need to be incorporated.
“Once a federation is incorporated, it will enjoy private sector support, because their books will be open to the public for scrutiny.
“This will give confidence to the investors, but government will continue to provide grants to the sports federation to run their programmes.
“If government will not provide funds, who runs grassroots development aspect of sports?”
