Dare Rolls Out Buhari Scorecard on Sports And Youth Development Sector
ABUJA - (Federal Ministry Sports & Youth Development Report) - The Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Sunday Dare has outlined the President Muhammadu Buhari Administration's Scorecard under the Sports and Youth Development Sector, since inception in 2015
While presenting the achievements during the International Press Briefing held at the National Press Centre, Abuja recently, Dare stated that his Ministry has the mandate to promote the physical, mental and socio - economic development of the youth, constituting the largest demographic composition representing 65% of Nigerian population.
He stated that under the present Administration, the Sports and Youth Development sector has witnessed tremendous turn - around through the implementation of well-thought out initiatives, programmes and policies targeted not only at empowering the youth, but also moving sports away from mere recreation to business. This he said is with a view to contribute to the socio-economic development of the country.
In describing the youth as the strength and future of the nation, Dare observed that "fixing them is fixing the country." He explained that this is why the present Administration embarked on empowering them through the acquisition of various skills to make them enterpreneurial, employable as well as employers of labour. He also revealed that so far, a total of 432,812 youths have benefited from the various training programmes, including Cyber Security, Web Development, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Coding among others.
According to him, this became realisable through its Digital Skills Acquisition, Enterpreneurship, Employability, Leadership and Mentorship (DEEL) programme deployed in collaboration with other development partners. The Minister explained that in order to provide access to funds to empower the teeming Nigerian youth, the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Administration has committed N75 billion to the National Youth Investment Fund (NYIF). He also noted that out of this amount, 26,000 applicants have so far accessed N10bn from the fund, while the next trench of N10bn is slated for disbursement in January 2023.
"The present Administration also boosted the commitment of graduates during the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) through the increment of their allowances from N19,800 to N33,000 effective from January 2020," he hinted.
On the Sports Sector, Dare informed that it has also witnessed a massive face-lift through its Initiatives/Projects such as Adopt-an-Athlete, Pitch, Sports, Talent Hunt Programme as well as Welfare Fund for athletes which has led to various sponsorship opportunities for them and leading to the numerous medals being harvested in different competitions within and outside the country. He further noted that the Administration was able to revive the National Principals' Cup, OSOM Games, National Youth Games as well as the National Sports Festival which is a forum for the discovery of talents.
The Minister emphasised that the present Administration in recognition of the sterling performance of Nigerian athletes at the Commonweath Games hosted them to a Presidential Reception and gifted them a cash reward of Two Hundred Million Naira, including National Honours.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed stated that the event which was launched on October 19, 2022 is the 14th Edition in the Administration's Scorecard Series. He inferred that the programme was organised by the Ministry to avail the public of the numerous achievements recorded by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government from inception of the present Administration till date.
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