Vision 2010, Ogbemudia Reports to Aid My Assignment - Omeruah
From Juliana Taiwo in Abuja
Former Minister of Sports and Chairman of the newly inaugurated one-man review committee of Nigeria's performance at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, Commodore Emeka Omeruah (rtd) has promised to dig up aspects from the Vision 2010 and the Samuel Ogbemudia reports as well as gather ideas from stakeholders that are proactive, sustainable and implementable in order to find lasting solution to the various problems bedeviling sports in the country.
Omeruah told newsmen immediately after his inauguration yesterday, that the Vision 2010 report for instance had calander of events that would have gradually privatised sports in the country and by 2010 its implementation would have been reviewed, he however, expressed confidence that this was not going to be a time wasting venture as government is indeed serious about changes in the sector.
He decried the fact that the private sector in the country was getting away with a lot of things compared to other countries where they play a major role in sports development. "My assigment is to come up with suggestions that would quickly be implementated and would yield results hence I have been given a free hand to source for resource persons and you gentlemen of the press are part of my resource persons," he said.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Ufot Ekaette said President Obasanjo was concerned that the winning of two bronze medals was not a reflection of the abundance of Nigerian sporting talents in and outside the country, hence the committee is to recommend measures for a 'proactive and sustainable sports development in Nigeria consistent with the vision to reposition the country on the global sporting maps.'
Omeruah's terms of reference are: to carry out a historical survey of Nigeria's participation at the Olympics since the nation first hoisted the national flag at the quadrennial event and review our performance profile over the years.
It is to examine the manner of preparation of the Nigerian contingent for the 2004 Olympic Games in regards to articulation of preparatory programme for the Olympic Games (time of articulation, scope etc), funding of the games, timing of release of funds duration of camping and choice of camp sites, technical depth of coaches, trainers etc, comparative standing of Nigerian athletes in relation to other athletes across the world, i.e standard set by the International Amateur Athletics Federation, IAAF etc and selection of athletes vis-a-vis allegations of favourism, nepotism and corruption.
The committee is to also examine the immediate and remove causes of the failure of the Nigerian contingent to Athens 2004 including: fitness levels of athletes against the backdrop of allegations of the imposition of out-of-form, aging, unfit and injured athletes on the coaches, morale of the team: kitting, allowances and remuneration, psychological, medical attention, etc, issues of discipline in the Nigerian camp and possible fissions in the camp and allegations of orchestrated sabotage of government and nation.
Mr. Akingun Roberts, a Director in the office of the Head of Service of the Federation, is the Secretary of the Committee and is expected to provide necessary secretariat support and faciliate the assignment. The committee is to submit its report in two months.
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