Abuja – Senator John Owan Enoh, Nigeria’s Honourable Minister of Sports Development, has expressed his commitment to building a collaborative relationship with the General Secretary for Sports in the Spanish Andalusian region, José Maria Arrabal Sedano. The aim is to advance sports development in Nigeria by sharing resources and knowledge NEGROIDHAVEN can report.
This collaborative effort is seen as an opportunity for Nigeria to glean insights from a region that has played a pivotal role in the success of Sevilla Football Club, a seven-time European champion. Sevilla FC’s accomplishments underscore the potential of high-level organization within a professional sports ecosystem, which the Nigerian government, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is keen on emulating to make sports a major driver of national development.
Senator Enoh highlighted the significant role sports plays in Spain’s economy, revealing that, as of 2023, 56% of the Spanish population engaged in sports activities at least three times a week. This level of sports engagement has led to substantial healthcare savings, amounting to 6.5 billion Euros. The Honourable Minister recognized that Nigeria could benefit from adopting a similar sports culture.
Additionally, the Sri Lankan government extended an offer for Senator Enoh to visit their country to explore opportunities for the development of hockey and cricket. They expressed their willingness to provide necessary technical support to promote these sports in Nigeria. Moreover, the Barca Innovation Hub has expressed readiness to partner with the Nigeria Football Federation in the field of sports education and training for the Nigerian football industry.
Senator Enoh expressed optimism about forging collaborative and mutually beneficial partnerships to enhance sports on a national level. These partnerships, he believes, will help Nigeria harness the potential of sports as a tool for economic development and social cohesion.
As the Honourable Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh continues to explore avenues for partnerships and initiatives to drive sports development and excellence in Nigeria.
Efforts to reach the General Secretary for Sports, Spanish Andalusian region, José Maria Arrabal Sedano, for comments regarding this collaboration are currently underway. Sports enthusiasts and stakeholders are keen to see the impact of these potential collaborations on Nigeria’s sports sector.
