In the build up to 2016 Rio Olympics, many Nigerian athletes took to social media to solicit for fund in order to attend the event in Brazil.
More ashamedly, a mail sent to the athletes by the Sports Commission was leaked to journalists. The mail advised them to find their ways to Rio as the government was broke.
Last week, the Super Falconets were sent home with a transport fare of N10,000 each after an international tournament. Similarly, the Super Eagles have not been paid match bonuses for a while. And for other sports such as Basketball, Taekwando, swimming, it has been a total helpless state as many don’t go for tournaments again due to paucity of fund.
Why this? The Sports Ministry depends solely on funds accruable from the federal government and no where else. This appears in recent time not enough to continue to sustain the nation’s football teams.
Below are 5 other means the Sports Ministry can make money other than relying on federal government:
1. Taxation:
What a federal government decides to task depends on its priorities. Earlier this year, the government decided it would start to receive a N50 stamp duty on all deposits. A small percentage of this money could be earmarked for sports.
2. Lottery and sports companies
Largely sustained by the private sector, the business of sports betting is today one of the biggest and most funded in the country. The federal government should bring up a policy whereby all lottery companies would remit a certain percentage of money to develop the sporting sector on whom they feed on.
3. Gamblers and sport betters
Every day in Nigeria, thousands of citizens place bettings with the hope of winning. You want to place your bet for today?, remember to give Super Eagles just N1. As little as N1 to N100 could be tasked on every betting and the N1 going into a separate account to fund national teams.
4. Nigerian league
The country has close to 200m estimated population with very few interested in Nigerian League matches. Government in partnership with the private sector should spend more on Nigerian League teams. The clubs should be assisted in raising the standard of their pitches and stadiums. This in turn will attract spectators who would look forward to Kano Pillars, Enyimba matches like that of Arsenal or Barcelona. If two percent of money made on every ticket goes to the Sports Ministry, less would be asked from the federal government.
5. Companies’ CSR
Many companies engage in Sporting activities and ironically spends on Corporate Social Responsibilities, CSRs, totally not in their line. Such companies should be encouraged more to support the national teams.
More ashamedly, a mail sent to the athletes by the Sports Commission was leaked to journalists. The mail advised them to find their ways to Rio as the government was broke.
Last week, the Super Falconets were sent home with a transport fare of N10,000 each after an international tournament. Similarly, the Super Eagles have not been paid match bonuses for a while. And for other sports such as Basketball, Taekwando, swimming, it has been a total helpless state as many don’t go for tournaments again due to paucity of fund.
Why this? The Sports Ministry depends solely on funds accruable from the federal government and no where else. This appears in recent time not enough to continue to sustain the nation’s football teams.
Below are 5 other means the Sports Ministry can make money other than relying on federal government:
1. Taxation:
What a federal government decides to task depends on its priorities. Earlier this year, the government decided it would start to receive a N50 stamp duty on all deposits. A small percentage of this money could be earmarked for sports.
2. Lottery and sports companies
Largely sustained by the private sector, the business of sports betting is today one of the biggest and most funded in the country. The federal government should bring up a policy whereby all lottery companies would remit a certain percentage of money to develop the sporting sector on whom they feed on.
3. Gamblers and sport betters
Every day in Nigeria, thousands of citizens place bettings with the hope of winning. You want to place your bet for today?, remember to give Super Eagles just N1. As little as N1 to N100 could be tasked on every betting and the N1 going into a separate account to fund national teams.
4. Nigerian league
The country has close to 200m estimated population with very few interested in Nigerian League matches. Government in partnership with the private sector should spend more on Nigerian League teams. The clubs should be assisted in raising the standard of their pitches and stadiums. This in turn will attract spectators who would look forward to Kano Pillars, Enyimba matches like that of Arsenal or Barcelona. If two percent of money made on every ticket goes to the Sports Ministry, less would be asked from the federal government.
5. Companies’ CSR
Many companies engage in Sporting activities and ironically spends on Corporate Social Responsibilities, CSRs, totally not in their line. Such companies should be encouraged more to support the national teams.