Newly appointed Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare says he is not unaware of the numerous challenges, controversies and development in the Ministry, www.aclsports.com reports.
Speaking in an address to ministry staffers at the Ministry Office shortly after receiving his portfolio at the State House in Abuja, Dare enjoined them to get to work immediately and work together as a team.
“As you can see, I’ve taken off my Agbada. That means work starts now. So, let’s get ready, let’s roll up our sleeves and let’s work together as a team,” said the 53-year old.
“Our mandate areas are very clear. We must broaden our horizon, we must deepen the work we do and the quality of work we bring to the table. I am not unaware of the challenges, controversies and development within this Ministry. The Ministry that is dear to all Nigerians,” added the Oyo State born technocrat.
Dare, who was a former Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) also highlighted his immediate and long term goal for the ministry.
“Beyond soccer, we have other sports. But at the heart of that work is also youths development, beyond sports. So, we will be thinking outside the box.
“We must find a way of taking sports out of the back pages to the front pages with positive news and that is possible. I have a massive media background and I know that the media is an integral part of youths and sports development.”
A fellow of the Prestigious Harvard Nieman Journalism fellowship, Dare is expected to hit the ground running with Team Nigeria currently competing for laurels at the ongoing African Games in Morocco while preparation for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as well as qualifiers for the next world cup Qatar 2022 are some of the issues that would be on the front burner for him.
He also confirmed in his address that the Ministry have up till September ending to submit their budget proposal for next year, an Olympics year to the Presidency.
Dare becomes Nigeria’s 35th Sports Minister and replaces Solomon Dalung who did not get a re-appointment from President Muhammadu Buhari.
