Ministry, NIIA highlight positive power of sports

Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Akin Dare

The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development (FMYSD) and the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) have highlighted the power of sports to promote peace and positive change in the world.

The Ministry and the NIIA collaborated to organise the first ever conference on Sports Diplomacy as the driver of Nigeria’s foreign policy agenda for Africa. The colloquium was held on Thursday at the NIIA Headquarters, at Kofo Abayomi, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The Youth and Sports Development Minister, Sunday Dare, and the Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Professor Eghosa Osaghae both used the occasion of the conference to elaborate on the need to use sports to enhance social well being and build bridges among nations and peoples.

Osaghae said in his welcome remarks that sports has become a tool for the unification of people with diverse backgrounds and cultures, stating that the time to make it a central part of international diplomacy is now.

The NIIA Director-General also described sports men and women as ambassadors of peace whose influences transcend the tracks, fields, courts and arena of their sporting exploits.

In his own remarks, the Minister Sunday Dare said the power of sports and its intricate relationship with politics dates back to Greco Roman times, revealing that the Olympics Games were a positive fall out of this interplay.

Dare also spoke about the power of sports branding for nations, giving examples of India (known for cricket), Kenya (known for its middle and long distance racing), Jamaica (for sprints) and Brazil (football).

He said sports can stimulate economic activities and improve the cause of