By Harriet Tornguvan
The minister of Sports Senator John Owan Enoh on Tuesday the 27th of August pledged support for the Federation of African University Games (FASU),which is said to take place in Nigeria.
Speaking during a courtesy visit with a delegation of the organizing committee for the games in Abuja, the minister assured them that the ministry will do everything within its power to ensure that the game is successfully hosted in Nigeria
Senator Owan Enoh assured the delegation of the willingness of the ministry to avail the Nigerian team the use of its facilities observed that the existence and use of high performance centres is the distinguishing factor that separates countries who excel from those who do not.
He added that sports should be co-operative and collaborative at local, sub- national and national levels.
The Minister expressed the determination of the Ministry under his leadership to get the country to return to school sports because of the immense benefits to the country.
Additionally the Minister said that he would lead a delegation to pay a visit to the Ministry of Education to explore ways both ministries could forge a common ground for the development of school sports.
During the meeting, the President and Chairman of the organizing committee of FISU Games , Dr. Mohammed Bawa lauded the grass roots driven vision of the minister in sports administration.
He appealed to the Minister to avail the Nigerian team for the necessary equipment for training which he emphasized would give them the critical experience that will prepare them for the games and make them competitive.
Dr. Bawa who observed that a mandatory visa fee of $200 dollars was too high appealed to the minister to liaise with his counterpart in the Ministry of Interior to grant a waiver for students. Such a waiver, he said would boost mass participation of students from various African countries.
