Guaranteeing Nigeria’s excellence in Sports in the near future would largely depend on strategic provision of the necessary sports infrastructure and the nurturing talents all at grassroot levels, and the first steps to achieving that goal will mean revamping the School Sports system.

This was the assertion of the Minister of Sports Development, Sen. John Owan Enoh as he explained his blueprint for reviving Schools Sports back to its glory days.

Speaking during a session with his constituency, on Brila Media’s Sports Fans Parliament, Sen. Enoh acknowledged that the initiative requires enhancing existing programs, but importantly is to collaborate with stakeholders particularly , a robust private-public partnership to pull off.

Minister of Sports Development, Sen. John Owan Enoh with Dr. Larry Izamoje, Chairman Brila Media.

“School sports would come back,” the Sports Minister noted. “The ministry is going to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Education, because they are going to be a necessary partner in this.”

” I’m aware that we have had different people sponsor different aspects of school sports, but this has also largely been limited and restricted to a state, a few states, or a zone.

“And that the school sports that the Ministry of Sports Development is going to resuscitate is going to have a national scope and therefore have every part of the country get involved.”

In the past, School Sports played a vital role in Nigeria’s historic rise and global and National success across various events.

Great talents were discovered from the initiative, who went on to achieve acclaim as Athletes and Coaches.

The likes of Stephen Keshi, Henry Nwosu for the Super Eagles, as well as Ese Brume, Nkem Akaraiwe in Athletics and basketball respectively.

Another benefit of the School Sports system was that it drastically curbs the menace of age cheating and allows for proper documentation and nurturing of aspiring athletes that show exceptional skills and talents.