Edo 2020: Worst NSF Ever Organised

The recently concluded 20th National Sports Festival, NSF, in Benin City, tagged Edo 2020 has been described as the worst managed National Sports Festival ever organized in the history of Nigeria by the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN. This declaration is part of the communiqué released after the association’s National Convention at the end of the Sports Festival in Benin City.
The Communique, signed by the Chairman of the drafting committee, Isaiah Benjamin, Secretary, Tunde Liadi, and Member, Qaseem Oladapo, states that apart from the provision of world class infrastructure at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Edo 2020 was far from the level expected of such a national sports fiesta, particularly, in terms of organisation.
It vowed to boycott future festivals if Sports Writers, as stakeholders, were not properly placed in the scheme of things. It also noted that sports development was anchored on a tripod of administration, participation and promotion and condemned the lack of tools to enhance effective media coverage at Edo 2020, just as it knocked the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports under Mr Sunday Dare, for clear show of disrespect for the sports media.
The Association decried poor officiating and alleged financial inducement of officials by some states which marred most of the events and urged sports federations to ensure that it engaged men of proven integrity as technical officials in future festivals.
States were also advised to prioritise sports funding rather than cutting corners. It also frowned at the use of non-Nigerian nationals at the festival and opening up of the games to established and foreign-based athletes, thereby hindering the process of replacing aging talents.
SWAN noted the need for the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports to revisit the objectives of the NSF with a view to fast tracking national integration, talent discovery, athletes and sports development, just as it sued for improved security at game venues in future.
The association, however, commended the Edo State Government under Governor Godwin Obaseki for putting in place world class sporting infrastructure and called for sustainable maintenance of the facilities. It further commended former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Barrister Solomon Dalung, who was a special guest at the Convention and the association’s President, Sir Honour Sirawoo, for intervening in the welfare of sports journalists that covered the festival with his personal resources.

By: Gabriel Nwanetanya