By Goodluck Ikiebe
Nigeria’s Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Mr. Sunday Dare, is to be conferred with a ‘Special Recognition Award’ in the Republic of Maldives
in recognition of his contribution to the development of sports in Nigeria and Africa.
The Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment, Republic of Maldives, Ahmed Mahloof, stated that the award is being conferred on Sunday Dare, not only for his contribution to the development of sports in Nigeria but to the African region as a whole.
“In recognition of the work, you have carried out for the development of sports in your country and African region, we will be conferring the ‘Special Recognition Award’ on your Excellency,” he stated.
The conferment ceremony which will be held in the Republic of Maldives on the 16th of March 2023 will be graced by the Maldivian President, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, world renowned athletes as well as Maldivian athletes, among others.
It will be recalled that in recognition of his stellar performances since assumption of office as Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Mr. Dare has bagged various awards including the Award of Excellence.in Public Service, an award given by President Muhammadu Buhari, the National Telegraph Most Innovative Minister Award, the Blueprint Sports Icon of the Year Award, Youth Award in the United States of America, African Illustrious Minister of the Year Award among many others.
Apart from the various awards, Dare has initiated a lot of programmes like the Adopt initiative as well as produced the National Sports Industry Policy, the 10 year Football Development Masterplan, the Talent Hunt Programme, the return of the long and middle distance races, and the cross country race in Nigeria after almost 40 years in the doldrums. He also embarked on the rehabilitation of sports facilities across the country, which efforts have impacted positively on Nigerian sports.
Under Dare’s leadership, Nigeria posted its best ever Commonwealth Games performance in August 2022 and produced the first ever World Record holder and World champion (in athletics) in Tobi Amusan.
It would also be recalled that Nigeria had its best Olympic Games performance in 13 years with 2 Medals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
