Sports minister Dalung commissions 20 boats in Lagos

.Calls for more private partnership

Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung has called for more private sector participation that will bring about development in the sector.

Dalung gave the advice while commissioning 20 Canoe/Kayak boats that were donated by Mutual Benefits Assurance PLC to the Nigeria Rowing, Canoe and Sailing Federation in Lagos on Thursday.

The 20 boats comprised, eight canoes, eight kayak and four slalom boats, Sportsbiz247 reports.

Dalung said sport was one of the major elements that could be used to engage youths meaningfully.

“We are not just here to commission the boats but also to launch our preparation for the Olympics. Sports are non-natural resources that can create jobs for over 40 million youths that we have in the country.

“The success of the Rowing and Canoe sailing federation is tied to the private sector because Mutual Benefit has been a lovely partner. They’ve played a fundamenbtal role in sponsoring so many activities. That goes to prove a point that sports belong more to private sector than the public.

President of NRCSF, retired Admiral Festus Porbeni, promised that the body would use the boats judiciously to enhance the development of the practitioners.

Porbeni urged other corporate bodies to emulate the donor in contributing to sports development at all levels. ``We are glad to receive these boats and it will no doubt boost our performance in the sport''.

Earlier, the Managing Director, Mutual Benefits, Akin Ogunbiyi said the company had contributed to sports development in various capacities.

Ogunbiyi added that promoting sport was one of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibilities.

“We are happy to partner with the federation to take the sport forward in the country. We have not left out sports in our area of creative and value-adding influence. We supported the National Sports Commission toward the youth Games in 2013, we were also served as the official insurer for the 2013 Police Games but to mention a few," he said.

Ahmed Gumel, President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) commended the federation for their giant strides in getting sponsors for the sport.

Gumel urged the federation to take its talent-hunt programmes to every part of the country in order to discover budding athletes. He promised that NOC would continue to give all the necessary support to the federation.