Posted Wed, Nov 20, 2019 9:04 AM

NESG partners Sports ministry to chart roadmap for development

Following a Consultative Meeting between the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) and the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sport Development Mr. Sunday Dare after the just concluded Nigerian Economic Summit (NES #25), the think tank and the Ministry sought to institutionalize Sports as a Private Sector led Industry in line with global best practices and to develop youth based vibrant sectors to drive the Nigerian economy.

Consequently, the NESG and the Ministry of Youth and Sport Development have concluded plans to host the First Inter-Ministerial Technical Session on Sports Industry Development, scheduled to hold on Thursday 21st and Friday 22nd November, 2019 at the NESG Liaison office, Unity Bank towers, Abuja FCT.

The Technical session will for the very first time ever, bring together Six (6) Ministers from selected key Ministries (Education, Information & Culture, Women Affairs, Industry, Trade &Investment, Finance, Budget & National Planning, Youth & Sports Development) to brainstorm in Sector specific Breakout Sessions, and harmonise cross-cutting, cross-sectoral issues with significant impact on the development of a reformed and repositioned Sport Industry in the country.

The goal of the Inter-Ministerial Technical Session is to develop a pathway for constant dialogue and engagement between the private and public sectors in order to chart a sustainable course for unlocking the potentials of the Sports Industry and enabling the development of the whole gamut of the value chain of sports. Through this pathway, it is expected that the reform of the Sports Industry will contribute to the socio-economic indices of the Nigerian economy by increasing participation in sport, enabling the creation of jobs, promoting greater employment of youth, generating revenues from sport related activities and targeting a GDP contribution of 2-3% to the Nigerian Economy within 5-10 years.

The outcome of the Inter-Ministerial Technical Session and the proceedings of the breakout sessions will form an integral part of the ongoing reform process towards a new National Sports Industry Policy that will accommodate objectives of all stakeholders in the Public, Social Enterprise and Private Sectors for a vibrant Sport Industry, capable of contributing to the growth of the socioeconomic indices of the Nigerian Economy.

In addition to the Honourable Ministers of the Six (6) Ministries identified above, the event will also have in attendance, heads of their relevant departments and agencies as well as selected chieftains from various economic sectors, multilateral agencies, social enterprise organisations and experts in both academic and practice of Sports.

The Inter-Ministerial Technical Session is jointly hosted by the Ministry and the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) and is a part of the NESG’s Sports Industry Thematic Group 2019/2020 Work Plan. This is expected to dovetail into the National Sports Industry Policy Dialogue which will be held next year as part of the events marking the National Sports Festival (Edo 2020).