By Gracious Akujobi The Minister of Sport, Bolaji Abdullahi, has given lifeline to athletes of Nigerian descent to participate in the 2014 National Sports Festival.
“Athletes of Nigerian descent wherever they reside will be eligible to participate henceforth in National Sports Festivals” Abudullahi said at the National Stadium Abuja, while inaugurating a 24-man committee to oversee the organization of the games which will be hosted by Cross Rivers state in 2014.
He said allowing athletes of Nigerian descent to participate in what he called ‘Open National Sports Festival’ will make the festival more interesting, hoping that it would help the festival games live up to its full potential.
The Minister therefore, enjoined the committee to work assiduously towards achieving the objectives of National Sports Festival for the growth and development of Nigeria sports.
In his response, the Director General of National Sports Commission (NSC), Gbenga Elegbeleye, who also doubles as the Chairman of the Main Organising Committee (MOC) promised that the committee would organsize a festival that has the semblance and standard of international games like the Commonwealth Games.
Others members of the committee are Efiok Cobham-Deputy Governor of Cross Rivers State who is the Vice chairman, Sani Ndanusa-President Nigeria Olympics Committee and Monday Emoghavwe -President Paralympic Committee of Nigeria.
