The Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development Sunday Dare has identified ways to deepen the democratic process and drive sustainable development in Nigeria.

Dare, who was the keynote speaker at the Senator Abiola Ajimobi Foundation roundtable held on Friday at the University of Ibadan, highlighted the reviving of the culture of public debate of ideologies and policies, investment in education and enlightenment and continuous improvement of our electoral laws among others, as practical steps that must taken to strengthen democracy and the rule of law in the country.

His words: “Apart from having roundtable discussions and open fora on the subject matter such as this, there is the need to take very practical steps in growing our democracy in Nigeria.

“There must be the reviving of the culture of public debate of ideologies and policies in our country and eliminating toxicity, abuse and vulgarity especially at this time that the social media is helping the spread of negativity and increasingly making more people anti-Intellectual even in the universities.

“We have a challenge to find great minds of the past like Professors Aboyade Cole, Sam Aluko, Moses Akin-Makinde and Chief Obafemi Awolowo who wrote and formulated policies for the country.”

The Minister also tasked the Government, “to continue to invest in education and public enlightenment so that the mass of the people can know their roles, rights, duties and obligations in the democratic process.”

Dare said there must be the continuous improvement of the electoral laws in Nigeria to protect the ballot and make votes count during elections, praising President Muhammadu Buhari for the Electoral Law 2022, which he says has instilled more confidence of Nigerians in the electoral process while strengthening the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) as an institution.

He further called for an effective criminal justice system to deal with all electoral offenders.

“Our criminal justice system needs to be more alive to its responsibilities. Our judiciary and law enforcement agencies, especially the Police, must be able to stamp out violence and intimidation from our political space.

“There should be punishment for electoral offenders. The Election Offences Tribunals must be able to prosecute these offenders.

“We also need strong and viable political parties, who apart from being vehicles for political participations must play critical roles in deepening the democratic system and sustainable development through the propagation of their manifestos and public education of their programmes and government policies. Political parties must remain a public trust and be properly organised as such.”

The Youth and Sports Development Minister Sunday Dare then eulogised the late former Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, describing him as a leader who loved his people and served them with honesty of purpose and with the determination to make positive impact on their lives.

“Some of the enduring legacies Senator Abiola Ajimobi has left us are the reforms in education, security and urban renewal.

“Without a doubt, we miss him greatly. If he was still here with us, our party, the All Peoples Congress(APC) would have been more vibrant, cohesive and viable,” Dare concluded.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports Development in another show of proactiveness splashed $25,000 on Team Nigeria athletes who have so far won medals at the ongoing Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

In a friendly ceremony held at the Hilton Garden in Birmingham, the athletes and their coaches were rewarded for bringing glory to fatherland

Gold medal winners, Adijat Adenike Olarinoye and Rafiatu Folashade Lawal, received $5,000 each, while their coaches were also given $3,000 each.

Folashade won gold in the women’s 59kg weightlifting event while Adenike won gold in the women’s 55kg weightlifting event.

Taiwo Laidi, a silver medalist in the women’s 76kg Weightlifting event, received $3,000 for her effort.

For bronze medal winners, Edidiong Joseph Umaofia, Islamiyat Yusuf and Mary Osijo, they all got $2,000 each for their effort.

The event had in attendance, Chief of Staff to the Minster of Youth and Sports Development, Alh. Abba Yola, Director of finance at the ministry Olufehinti Olusegun and Dr Simon Ebhojiaye who is the leader of delegation for team Nigeria to the games.

Gold medalist in the 59kg Women’s Weightlifting event, Folashade Lawal said “I am pleased we got rewarded even before the end of the competition, I thank the honourable Minister for Sports, Sunday Dare for his proactiveness in this regard”.

“It is quite timely for us, as this act will encourage and spur all athletes to do more. For me, I want to thank the Minster for this and I’m very excited” she said.

As more medals and records continue to pour in for Nigeria at the games, the Sports minister has again reiterate the fact that athletes’ welfare remains a top priority in his administration.

The insistence of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development on stricter anti-doping measures and the increase in the number of testings by the National Anti-Doping Agency(NADA) has earned Nigeria the commendation of the Athletics Integrity Unit(AIU).

The Athletics Integrity Unit(AIU) is the special unit created by the international athletics body, World Athletics to oversee all issues relating to doping control among its members.

Nigeria is placed in Category A which is the lowest ranking of Federations and the athletes from countries in this category must have at least three(3)Out of Competition Testings(OCTs), each test three(3)weeks apart within the ten(10)months leading to a major International event like the Olympic Games and the World Championships.

At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, ten out Nigeria’s twenty three athletes were barred from competing owing to their failure to meet this AIU requirement(Rule 15 of AIU framework)that came into force in January 2019.

However, all twenty five(25) Nigerian athletes registered for the ongoing 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, United States of America were cleared to participate having met the requirement.

Also, from a meagre twenty six(26) tests conducted on Nigerian athletes in 2021, one hundred and fifty seven(157)tests have already been done in 2022.

In commending Nigeria, David Howman, chairman of the AIU board said he was pleased to see significant improvements in the efforts to clean up the sport.

“I particularly commend the Nigerian team. It is amazing what can be achieved when the domestic authorities start taking anti doping seriously.

“While there have clearly been positive steps across the board, there are still many improvements to be made in the application of the rule and we will continue to work with the Category A Federations to do so,” he added.

Sports Minister Sunday Dare who has been the driving force in the push to improve Nigeria’s anti doping status and image says the AIU’s commendation is confirmation that the Ministry is doing something right.

“We cannot afford a repeat of the embarrassment we got in Tokyo where ten of our athletes were declared ineligible to compete on technical grounds as a result of the breach of the AIU rule. We had to be proactive and put stricter measures in place, not minding the attacks and snide comments from certain quarters.

“This commendation shows we are doing the right thing. It will spur us on to continue to do all we can to improve our anti doping status and image,” Dare said.

S- Sincerity Sincerity is his watchword… Ever since his appointment as Nigeria minister of youth and sports, Sunday Dare has played his card with high level of sincerity. He makes promises and fulfil them. He tries as much as he can to carry every one along but he is not afraid to hurt a friend if that friendship will stop him from doing what is right. At the very beginning, many thought he was a friend to one of the parties before and after the NBBF elections but Dare stood his ground when it truly matters and took a decision that was in the best interest of the sport.

U- Unity– He preaches one Nigeria and believes in the saying that a house divided against itself cannot stand. Ever since his coming as Nigeria minister of youth and sports, Dare has united the sporting family. The crisis in football has disappeared. Board members still have their grievances but they have worked together in the best interest of the game.

Today, the Athletics federation if Nigeria AFN, has become more united under the able leadership of governor Okowa, a man who got the nod of board members, to bring a new lease of life to the sport.

Key players of the Nigeria male and female basketball teams are united in their support for the minister despite the recent ban from international competitions initiated by the federal government.

N- Neutral– Dare has maintained a neutral position in policy and decision making. He is a man who doesn’t take sides. No wonder, stakeholders have found it difficult to pin him down with allegations since assumption of office.

D- Dedicated– He is dedicated and diligent, dogged and determined. He came into office with a promise to change narratives and has achieved so much in just over three years. The renovation of the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja was the highpoint of an administration that has seen so much outstanding achievements.
A stadium that was abandoned for well over 16years by the People’s democratic Party (PDP Leadership) was renovated by the APC and given to the opposition free of charge to conduct their national primaries on Saturday.

Only Sunday Dare can do that. He takes nothing to heart and holds no grudges in the line of duty.

A- Accountability– Dare gives account of his stewardship in whatever capacity he finds himself. Just like APC Presidential aspirant Bola Tinubu said in a video that has gone viral, Dare is a man who doesn’t take what doesn’t belong to him. He is contented with his little and will not take a dime from public purse even if he doesn’t have a dime on him. That tells the story of man who gives to ceazer what is ceazer. No wonder, at all time, he has come out clean in all his financial dealings with individuals and groups.

Y- Youth friendly— Other ministers call him the father of Nigeria youths. His passion for youth liberation, emancipation and freedom is second to none. The.National youth investment programme NYI, which was conceptualized by president Mohammadu Buhari has continued to cater for millions of Nigeria youths, including sports journalists below 35years of age who have laudable ideas that needs government’s support.

Nigeria youth Corpers are perhaps, one of the biggest beneficiaries od Sunday Dare’s youth liberation. The NYSC Monthly stipends received a massive upgrade under the Sunday Dare administration and he has extended same love to other youth sectors as he desperately intends to make this world a better place for Nigeria youths.

D- Delivers He has delivered on all his promises. He promised to revive key dilapidated sporting structures in Nigeria and has gone about his work with.due diligence.

The Moshood Abiola National stadium in Abuja was a priority that has since been completed. The National stadium in Lagos is another priority that has received massive face-lift. The Daura sports complex is a promise made and accomplished while the increment in monthly allowances of youth Corpers is another pointer to the fact that when Dare makes promises, he delivers.

A- Amiable– He is loved, he is friendly and easily accessible. The Oyo state born administrator has no enemies. He goes about his job, trying not to please or offend anyone but determined to achieve the desired goal. In less than four years in office, he has built an enviable reputation for himself and looks destined for the very top.

R- Results Dare is not a friend of failure. He detests failure with a passion and under his administration, sports has thrived massively. Apart from the Super Eagles failure to qualify for the World Cup, Nigeria has made great impact in other sports.

Team Nigeria beat the achievements of the last sixteen years by winning a silver and bronze medal at the last Olympic games. The Paralympic team also made history with their exploits at the last Paralympic games in Tokyo Japan, while Nigeria athletes did not also disappoint at the World Athletics championship in Kenya. In Basketball, the male and female teams have continued to dominate. Same goes for wrestling and scrabble where the country’s representatives performed excellently at continental and world championship.

E- Enduring– his legacies will endure forever. He has succeeded where others failed. He has taken time to touch many lives in just a short time. Even those who don’t like his face are forced to accept the fact that Nigeria sports under the leadership of Sunday Dare has enjoyed a new lease of life and can only hope for greater things to come between now and when he eventually drops the baton in 2023.

On this auspicious occasion if his 56th birthday, the sporting media and indeed all genuine stakeholders, are united in wishing this hero of our time, a happy and prosperous birthday.

Signed
Adewale Ajayi
For Friends of Dare

The Federal Government of Nigeria on Monday flagged off road improvement and erosion control projects in Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

Speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary of the Office of Ecological Projects, Dr Habiba Lawal, who was represented by the Director of Media and Publicity, Dr Joel Oruche said the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare played a prominent role in attracting Government’s intervention to Ogbomoso.

Dr Lawal also enjoined the people of Ogbomoso to cooperate with the contractor and engineers handling the projects for efficient and a timely service delivery.

The roads to be worked on are;
Adebayose Idowu-Dare Street, off Ado Alaamo; Olusegun Obasanjo Way; 1004 Theater Road; R.Bello Road and Muneer Ibrahim Crescent. All in Ogbomoso.

Over 200 youths and adults most of them from Ogbomosoland will be directly employed by the contractors involved in the projects and a lot more would benefit indirectly through the provision of ancillary and other support services.

In his remarks, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Chief Sunday Dare thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for approving the projects that he had proposed and facilitated to Oyo State over three years ago.

Dare said facilitating the projects is the privilege of a lifetime and a dream come true.

His words: “I am thankful to God for this and to President Muhammadu Buhari. Contributing to the social well being of my people, leaving a legacy that transcends my time as a Minister and extends to generations yet unborn is priceless.”

The Minister promised to ensure that the youth of Ogbomosoland are not left out in the schemes of developmental programmes and are also fully integrated in all the initiatives of the Federal Government.

The Soun of Ogbomoso, who was represented by High Chief Otolorin Sobaloju, praised the Minister for being a worthy son and a proud representative of the people.

The High Chief said, “the people of Ogbomosoland and indeed Oyo State are lucky to have a son like Sunday Dare as Minister, his interest in the welfare of his people and commitment to bringing developmental projects to them stands him heads and shoulders above his contemporaries.”

Former Senator Ayo Adeseun also showered encomiums on Chief Sunday Dare for facilitating the building of the Pakiotan 80 bed capacity hospital, the youth vocational training centre in Ogbomoso, the renovation and equipping of the Okelerin Primary Health Centre and using his personal fund to roofing of the Sọun Township Stadium and serving as the co-facilitator of the Federal Polytechnic Ayeede.

Some of the other dignitaries present at the flag off include the former Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Honourable Olagunju Ojo, Representative of Soun of Ogbomoso, High Chief Aare Ago, Chairman of NSS, Ogbomoso Branch, Prof A.A Agboola, Chairman Ogbomoso Parapo and Alhaji Saka Bello Aremole.

In bold move to step up the fight against doping by athletes, the Federal Ministry of Youth and sports Development is to partner with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO.

Speaking during a courtesy call on the Minister of Youth and Sports Development Mr Sunday Dare, the Nigerian Ambassador to UNESCO, Hajiya Hajo Sani commended the Minister for his innovations and sustained efforts “we want to commend the Ministry for all the youth and sports focused initiatives that’s has been running and yielding results. On our part we will continue to ensure that our sportsmen and women compete clean in all competitions in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and beyond by not taking any substances that violate rules of Sports”

In his response, the Minister said “This meeting is coming at an opportuned time when we are just few days to the commencement of the Tokyo Olympics. I believe your job as Nigerian Ambassador to UNESCO is a choice that is justifiable. In a deliberate way we seek partnerships and collaborations in any organisation that is Youth focused.As a Ministry we will keep availing the youth of our country the benefits that are available. We are barely 8 days to the commencement of Tokyo 2020 Olympics and emphasis has been on the need to have clean sports as we’ve been charging the Athletes to compete fairly and clean without using any banned substances. In another few days we will see over 58 of our athletes in 9 different sports competing with the best from the world in Tokyo. Through the years of preparations, the emphasis has been on making sure we do not violate any of the guidelines provided by the World Anti-Dopping Agency.”

Signed

Media office of the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development