Nigeria – Capital of Sports and Olympic in Africa – Dare

September 17 21:50 2019 by The Ajasa News Print This Article

The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare has commended the President and the Association of the National Olympic Committee of Africa (ANCOA) for their magnanimity and recognition of Nigeria in the African Continent. More so the fact that Nigeria is hosting the headquarters of ANOCA is very significant to the economy of the Nation and youth development. But nevertheless, the Minister confirmed that this will also require more responsibilities on the Nigerian sports developments. 

Mr Sunday Dare, made this remark during the courtesy visit of the President, Mr Berraf Mustapha and the Executives of ANOCA to his office. 

According to the Minister, the headquarters had been in Cameroon for twenty – five years and it took a lot of work to bring it to Nigeria. There is no place in Africa than Nigeria, as over the last years, the country has made Africa proud. 

The Honourable Minister assured the President that come Tokyo 2020, Nigeria will still perform, as Nigeria’s Olympic dream is alive in several sports. As we prepare for Tokyo 2020, we believe that ANOCA will support us where necessary, Mr Dare added. 

The present focus is the completion of the headquarters in Abuja, and the commissioning in November. The hosting of the headquarters since 2009 has increased the visibility of our country, and we have lots of benefits to that effect. 

Mr Sunday Dare said that, this visit is a precursor to the visit of Thomas Bach, the President of International Olympic Committee (IOC). The ministry is committed to have the headquarters ready on or before 13th November. We are expecting that a team of 49 – 50, from all over the world, will come with the President for the commissioning, and the country will witness the last biggest event before Tokyo 2020. 

‘We believe that partnership with ANOCA will grow stronger, not just through visits but capacity building through training and other programmes that will inspire the youths to promote the values of Olympics. 

The President, Association of National Olympic Committee of Africa, Berraf Mustapha, in his remarks, said that six countries, Egypt, Ghana, Tunisia, Kenya, Mauritius and Cameroon, bided for the right to host the headquarters of ANOCA, but it is now in Abuja, Nigeria, and there are numerous advantages in the Economic, Sports and social life of the country, as it has hosted many visitors and events. 

Mr Berraf remarked that the visit of IOC President in the season of the Tokyo Olympic is an event of World Sports, in relation to the Government in the support of the creation of ANOCA.  With the hosting, Abuja has become the capital of Sports and Olympic in Africa.  

The President, Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Engr. Habu Gumel, who is also the Treasurer of ANOCA, hinted that ANOCA has 54 countries as members with Nigeria as the Headquarters. 

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Olusade Adesola, earlier in his welcome remarks, stated that the visit of the ANOCA team is a fine start for the Minister and will lead to the development of Sports in Nigeria.