Sports Ministry Targets Nigerian Youths In Diaspora

Sports Minister, Bolaji Abdullahi, has said that a youth sports mobilisation programme, “Rhythm and Play,’’ will be launched this month in London, to promote patriotism among Nigerian children in the U.K.

Abdullahi gave the explanation while being interviewed by journalists in London, against the backdrop of the “catch them young project’’.

“Rhythm and Play, is a sports mobilisation programme aimed at encouraging children to play sports and compete for Nigeria.

“The idea is targeted at bringing 2 million Nigerian children to play sports within the next two years, and these include children living abroad.

“Our experience from the last Olympics is that many of these children end up competing for Great Britain and other countries.

“They have raised issues of a lack of encouragement from home, and we have decided to mobilise them under this platform,’’ the minister said.

Abdulahi said that the ‘Rhythm and Play’ programme would provide the platform for those in the Diaspora to represent the nation in sporting events.

“We see this not only as an opportunity for Nigeria but also for children with huge potential to serve their nation at international events.

“We are committed to driving this forward. We are hoping that during the launch of the programme this month, parents and children will use the opportunity to ask questions and erase doubts in their minds,’’  Abdullahi stressed.

It was gathered that taekwondo, wrestling, athletics, boxing, football, weightlifting and shooting have been identified as priority sports, where Nigeria had comparative advantage, and potentials to win medals.

Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the U.K., Dr Dalhatu Tafida,  in a recent remark, expressed the mission’s commitment toward collaborating with the ministry in mobilising children for the programme.

Tafida, who lauded the initiative, also tasked the ministry to look at other areas of sports, beyond football, saying: “there are many Nigerians here (the U.K.) doing so well in boxing, and other sports’’.

The High Commissioner also called for early preparations ahead of the 2014 Commonwealth Games holding in Glasgow, Scotland.