The Main Organising Committee (MOC) of the National Sports Festival (NSF), Calabar 2014 must work towards attracting sponsorship for the sporting event, the Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi has said.
The Minister gave the directive while inaugurating the 24-man committee at the Abuja National Stadium on Thursday.
He expressed disappointment that as old as the Festival is, it hasn’t lived up to the expectation of government in all ramifications.
“Though, the National Sports Festival has been of age, it has not lived to its potentials in term of money generation.”
“Lagos State had to pay media organisations to broadcast the event instead of the other way round.”
Abdullahi maintained that the MOC must package the festival in a way that will attract investors.
While calling on investors to leverage on the festival to reach the large population of the country, the Minister expressed optimism that the event would be a remarkable one.
The Director-General of National Sports Commission, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye is the Chairman of the Committee while the Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Barr. Efiok Cobham is the Vice Chairman.
Other prominent members of the committee include President of Nigeria Olympic Committee, Engr. Sani Ndanusa, Dr. Bolaji Ojo-Oba, Mal. Al-Hassan Yakmut, Cross River State Commissioner of Sports; Patrick Ugbe.
Responding on behalf of the 24 members of the Committee, Hon. Elegbeleye while thanking the Minister for appointing them to serve, promised the Committee will deliver on its mandate.
The DG, National Sports Commission who acknowledged that the quality of organisation must be commensurate with the quality of athletes that will participate at the event, said members of the committee were capable to achieve results.
The 19th edition of the Festival in Calabar next year will be the first time the Games will be thrown open to all Nigerians both at home and abroad.
Sourced from The Daily Trust.
