By Princess Simon (Bureau Chief North Central, in Minna)
Sports analyst in Niger state, Mr. Daniel Amasingha has attributed woes recorded in Niger state's sports sector to inadequate commitment to the development of the sector through adequate funding.
For best results to be achieved in sports growth and development in Niger state, Daniel speaking as Resource Person in the One Day training for Sports Writers in Niger state, said all bottlenecks including; gender biases, corrupt practices causing dearth of training facilities and poor remunerations, getting capable hands devoid of tribal and religious biases amongst others, must be adequately addressed.
Daniel Amasingha made the declaration in a paper presented at the One-Day training organized by the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Niger state chapter in collaboration with the Office of the Zonal Representative of Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) for Sports Journalists in the state.
Speaking on the theme; "From Headlines to Nation Building: Using Sports Journalism as a tool for Development, Unity and Social Change", the expert argued that sports sector have not fared well compared to previous years when Niger state used to be among the tops in Nigeria's sports ranking/chart in terms of growth and development. He blamed what is playing out in the state today to radical negative, noticeable changes that have almost crippled the entire sector.
Niger state Sports sector, he further emphasized, may continue to suffer lack of proper cohesion and coordination unless the administrators or handlers eschew sentiments and sense of judgments in choosing who to manage the various segments of the sports sector.
He reasoned that, years back, Niger state used to be among the tops in national sports ranking/rating for different sports because the government then focused more on who will deliver or win medals at national and international events, not minding the person's tribe, religion, region or political inclinations contrary to what is happening today that the issue of religion, gender imbalance and tribal biases have taken centre stage.
To reclaim lost space in national sports ranking, Dan who however encouraged sports journalists on the need to be detribalized in their reportage of sporting events, encouraged sports administrators to shun sentiments by bringing in tested and proven capable hands to man the different segments of sports while also ensuring proper funding and prompt payments of salaries and other bonuses to the sports men and women sacrificing their time and energies for the state.
"I want to remind fellow sports journalists on the need to approach their jobs unbiased as detribalized Nigerians. Sports, which is a unifying factor, knows no religion, tribe or region, whether you are from north or south, east or west, your reports should not run down any region or state, tribe or religion". He noted that SWAN members should assume wherever they are reporting from to be their home.
The Chairman Niger State Sports Commission (NSSC), Comrade Danjuma Abdul Masu had earlier pleaded for the understanding of Sports Writers in areas where the commission failed to meet up with their demands and expectations.
Masu who spoke through the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Alhaji Baba Sheshi, traced the gap between SWAN and sports administrators in Niger state to unrealistic budgetary approvals/allocations during national and international outings, and expressed hope that some issues creating such gaps will be remedied soonest.
"The problem we face as administrators is that when we apply for funds to go for sporting events, what we get is always far less than what we budgeted or applied for". This, Masu, explained, has made it impossible to adequately carry along SWAN members in all its outings.
Also in his goodwill message, former zonal Secretary of SWAN, Comrade Abu Hassan, decried what he termed constant relegation of Sports Writers to the background by sports administrators, who, after using them to achieve lofty breakthroughs, abandon them thereafter.
Sports Writers despite playing key role including using them to call policy makers to order or to ensure timely release of monies by the Executive for sporting events, are not appreciated as they are left behind shortly after, he pointed out.
These and many more, according to Abu Hassan, has created unwarranted gaps that must be filled if sports administrators wants sports writers to put in their best in not only reporting their activities, but playing pivotal role in discovering and nurturing hidden sports talents that abound across the 25 Local Government Areas of the state. NNL.
