A Presidential Hand Shake for Sportsmen is not nearly enough
Dear Sir,
In recent times, successful Nigerian sportsmen have been treated to a
reception with President Obasanjo including a signed certificate of
merit, and a Presidential hand shake. There is a deliberate policy to
shun financial rewards to succesful sportsmen. But is this ideal?
Perhaps not.
In the past, there were standard sports facilities all over the country,
regularly organised sports meets, functional sports associations and
ministries. Years of Military rule have redefined the sports landscape
making it near impossible for the country to turn out world class
athletes. The few successful athletes that have emerged, in spite of the
system, have been self financed, amidst stark poverty, and faced
incredible odds to achieve glory for the country. They must be
recognised as worthy heroes and duly compensated in terms of
scholarships, trainning allowances, medical policies, kits and financial
rewards based on their perfomances. The late MKO Abiola personally
bankrolled a similar programme for Chidi Imo and Falilat Ogunkoya, who
went on to produce sports laurels for the nation.
President Obasanjo has recognised the need to repair the nation's
battered image. Towards this goal, a massive N750million for the
President, and N350million for the Vice-President has been voted in the
2000 Budget for overseas trips. Sportsmen should be also allowed to help
to prosecute the country's public relations battle, the impact of
sports in laundering our image cannot be underestimated.
Furthermore, military dictatorship has also helped to distort our
values and warped our societal system of rewards. Thus, instead of
producing literary geniuses like Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka, Cyprian
Ekwensi and Mabel Segun, we have literary sycophants reproducing
"selected speeches" of powerful people, massaging their egos and opening
their wallets. Surely financial compensation to sportmen presents an
opportunity to re-order our system of rewards and values; our 60million
youths will see the result of hard work in sports, acquire worthy
heroes, channel their energy to sports, instead of the present day
recreational alternatives like cult activities, robbery, militancy,
religous zealotry etc.
Clearly, sports has an important role in the Nigerian Rennaissance. Our
national re-awakening has to revive national pride, and in recognition
the Sports Minister should be challenged by Mr. President to set goals
for himself, ala Bola Ige, and be ready to sink or swim with his
success or lack of it. Existing stadia and recreational facilities
should be rehabilitated, strong professional managers must be put in
place to mange these facilities. One year is gone in the life of this
administration, there is the oppurtunity of 3 years to make ammends.
However opportunity being the most perishable resource, there is a
mounting urgency in a timely execution of a well articulated sports
programme.
Bolade Oyebolu
Lagos, Nigeria
April 25, 2000
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Originally submitted to the Guardian for publication.
Published with the permission of the author.
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