Fund Elite Athletes Programme, Don Appeals To FG

The Chairman, Lagos State University (LASU) Sports Council, Prof. Ademola Onifade, has appealed to the Federal Government to adequately fund the “Elite Athletes Training Programme’’ for sports to thrive in the country.

The programme was initiated by the Ministry of Sports to return Nigeria to her glory days at international competitions.

Onifade told newsmen in Lagos that the initiative was to chart a new course for sports development.

Onifade, a member of the “Ministerial Talent Hunt Committee’’, said they discovered many athletes for the Elite Athletes Training Programme at the just concluded 18th National Sports Festival.

He said that many of the athletes discovered at previous sports festivals faded away because of “lack of serious programmes for them to consolidate on’’.

The don also said that the committee had submitted its recommendation on the athletes discovered and their data, to enable the NSC to take necessary action.

“There has been series of programmes to return Nigeria to her winning ways in international competitions but they die a natural death because of lack of funds.

“We discovered lots of athletes at the just concluded sports festival who can be further trained in the Elite Athletes Training Programme for them to win medals at international competitions.

“The committee has submitted its reports and I can only appeal to the Federal Government to fund the programme properly for it to serve its purpose,’’ the don said.

He urged the NSC to ensure that zonal sports administrators organised grassroots talent hunt programmes to discover athletes who “can put the country’s name on the sports world map’’.