Sports Enthusiast, Barr Oruruo, Advocates Govts, Private Sector Huge Investment In Sector

Sports Enthusiast, Barr Oruruo, Advocates Govts, Private Sector Huge Investment In Sector

Harps on provision of modern facilities

By: KELVIN OKPARA, Enugu

Sports enthusiast and ex- Board Chairman of Rangers International FC of Enugu, Barrister Steve Oruruo, has urged governments at all levels and the private sector to begin to see sports as a space with huge business opportunities, and start investing heavily in the area.

He posited that besides being a veritable tool for unification, and avenue for engaging jobless youth, the sector has the huge potential to boost the economy of any state or nation if given the attention it deserves.

Oruruo expressed this at the weekend at his Enugu residence, while playing host to the Executive Committee (Exco) members of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Enugu State Chapter, led by its Chairman, Comrade Gideon Iwueke of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Enugu National station, who paid him a courtesy visit.

According to him, “Sports has gone beyond just for recreational purposes, it is now pure business in the present day world hence, both government and the private sector must accord the sector the attention it deserves.”

He regretted that despite the huge potentials in the sector, some state governments in Nigeria are still foot dragging in embracing the all-important sector, leading to poor outing during national and international sports fiestas.

The incumbent Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu state, who harped on the need for sports financers, especially within the government spaces in the country, to have a rethink and change the narrative, maintained that not until such poor disposition is changed, the area would continue to dwindle.

Oruruo, who equally challenged sports writers in Enugu state and elsewhere, to rise up to their duties and redouble their efforts in highlighting some of the ills in the sector, stressed the need for the reviving and resuscitation of school sports in Enugu state and other parts of the country, insisting that it remains the basis for the development of sports.

He also averred that for states in Nigeria to really get to their expected destinations sports-wise, they must take the issue of provision of sporting facilities very seriously, adding that for the sector to be truly developed and promoted in any clime, there must be in place the needed modern facilities.

“The truth is that you can’t really develop sports without the needed facilities on the ground. And because we have failed to do the needful over the years, that is why our sports seem not to be making much headway.”

Oruruo equally advocated for the establishment of Sports Commissions in various states of the federation, including Enugu, for efficient and effective operations, stressing that the state Ministries of Sports should be playing a supervisory role.

“If you want to have a functional sports system, states should put in place a Sports Commission that would be under the supervision of the Ministries of Youth and Sports. The Commission will be in charge of the practical dealings.”

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