Sports Can Help Shaping Nigeria's Value Charter- NOA DG


 


Mallam Lanre Isa-Onilu, Director General, National Orientation Agency, (NOA) has explained that sports is one of the seven items his agency intends to exploit in charting a new national value charter for the country.


He made this disclosure to sports journalists under the aegis of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, (SWAN) Kwara State chapter, led by its chairman, Mallam Ayodeji Ismail in Ilorin on Friday.



According to the former journalist and politician, Nigeria is still yet to codify those attributes that define what it means to be a Nigerian.


"Sports is one of the low hanging fruits NOA intends to exploit to bring about uniting Nigerians and properly defining the true Nigerian attribute," stated Isa-Onilu.



"In Nigeria we have not invested  in what makes a true Nigeria. We must have a unique identity as Nigerians. We must create institutions to do that.


"Sports is the easiest institution to create to help achieve this. A situation where Nigerians are fans of clubs in the English Premier League (EPL) is not the best for Nigeria," he stated.


The DG NOA further explained that the agency is closely working with the Minister of Sports, Senator John Enoh with a view to changing the culture to one which not only enhances the Nigerian brand and true character, but also helps in making sports a big business in Nigeria.


"We are working towards two big projects which will impact the sports business in Nigeria and West Africa. That is the good thing about working with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.


"I can assure you that this plan of ours did not just start today. 


"It has always been my passion which the President shares passionately with me and some very key stakeholders in the sports and information industry," Mall Onilu said.


The DG promised that going forward, SWAN would be incorporated in FG's plan of exploiting sports to the benefit of the country.


Expressing gratitude, Mallam Ayodeji Ismail, SWAN chairman, promised that the body of sports writers in Kwara are all too ready to support NOA in the project ahead.


"We have every reason to ensure that you succeed. You are not only one of us as a former journalist, but also, you are from Kwara" he said.


Along with the chairman at the meeting with the DG were other members of the SWAN Kwara State chapter executive committee. 


These were Toyin Saheed of Sobi FM, Vice Chairman, Sodiq Adebara, Radio Nigeria FM, and assistant secretary general, Abdul Momoh, FIFA and CAF accredited photojournalist and Mustafa Abubakar of Unilorin FM. 


The last two are ex-officios of the SWAN executive body.

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