Former President, Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF), Jonathan Nnaji, has called for the enactment of a Sports Endowment Fund law to reposition sports in the country.
Nnaji, who made the call in Abuja on Monday, noted that the country must change its ways of funding sports in order for the desired results to be achieved.
“The kind of treatment we get from the National Sports Commission (NSC) is usually a problem. Usually, it’s not their fault because they make money available to sports federation for competitions based on when the funds are available to them.
“The problem we have in this country is that funds for Olympics and other competitions come in the year of the Games, while other countries receive theirs a year ahead. This is not too good for our preparation and participation at the Olympics and unless it is restructured, we will keep having challenges with our preparations for competitions.
“The National Assembly should pass a law that certain amount of money be made available every year for Olympic Games’ preparation.’’
According to him, that is when we will start preparing for Olympics like other developed countries do.
The former taekwondo boss pointed out that the law, if enacted would provide for intensive sports development through the provision of sporting facilities and training of sportsmen and women.
Nnaji, who is also a member of the Africa Taekwondo Union, said that Nigeria would be the country to beat in international competitions if such a bill would be passed.
He expressed optimism that the country would qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in spite the financial difficulties faced by various sectors of the country.
The NTF will participate in the African Olympic qualifier scheduled to take place in Morocco between February 5 and February 7, 2016.
