BY OUR REPORTERS
He has had a very busy itinerary since he assumed office as Nigeria's new sports Minister in the middle of last August. The time of being thrust into the spotlight in the country's vibrant sports industry coincided with Team Nigeria's participation in the World Athletics Championships which held in Budapest, Hungary that same month.
Ever since, new sports Minister, Sen. John Enoh has shown early signs of one who is avidly committed to transforming the face of sports in Nigeria for the period he has to hold the office.
From what he has said and done in barely two months in an office famed for witnessing the most turnover of ministers in the country's governance architecture since the advent of the Fourth Republic, it is clear Enoh knows where he is going and the means through which to get there.
In less than 60 days, the minister has addressed salient issues germane to the development of the country's sports sector. He has befriended the different stakeholders like the Sportswriters Association of Nigeria (SWAN), players' union, sponsors, etc; made assurances about increased funding for athletes representing the country in major international competitions especially in the aftermath of Team Nigeria's poor showing in the last World Athletics Championships, talked about ensuring periodic review of the activities of the sports federations in the light of persistent in-fightings over legitimacy and tenure-related issues, made pronouncements about better welfare and insurance packages for athletes and shown a commitment to stamp out doping in order to end the frequent embarrassments the country usually faces when an athlete is alleged to have spiced his system with performance enhancing drugs.
His posture on neutrality, and eschewing acts that create the impression that he responds more to the needs of some sporting federation than the others has also won him plaudits in certain circles. That he actually said, "I will not be a minister of any sports federation," at his inaugural speech as minister has largely been hailed as a departure from the norm.
The minister has, during his short period in office, not only been making politically correct statements, he has actually been on the move!
He had not only recently visited Spain during September's World Football Summit, he actually drew up a blueprint that would ensure collaboration with the country which has hosted and won the World Cup at different times, staged the Olympics and won the FIFA U-20 World Cup hosted by Nigeria in 1999.
The minister has also clearly shown a commitment to developing sports at the grassroots as well as supporting the sporting aspirations of youths in the country. His innovative idea of introducing the National Identification Number (NIN) as a screening formula to admit athletes into future Youth Games in the country has also earned high praise, especially considering that it will checkmate the incidences of alleged discrepancy. In addition to his 10-point agenda on how to wholly develop the sports sector in Nigeria.
CHALLENGES
However, in a country where a lot of administrators often lose focus after a few months in office for no particular reason one can fathom, there will always be doubts as to whether he can maintain the momentum of his present speedy take-off. The question will always be asked, "Will John Enoh be a different kind of sports Minister?"
"Will he actually deliver on all the areas he has promised?"
A few stakeholders want him to deliver on his 10-point agenda, including the issues on ground after a thorough study of the treacherous terrain of the country's sports.
Beyond that, Sen. John Enoh will be judged on the basis of how much results he achieved while in office, and not by the eloquence or beauty of the programmes he executes or plans to execute.
He should glow in the praises in the event of laudable achievements in the same manner he must brace up for knocks if the country's sports under his watch, fails.
Year 2024 presents the opportunity for Nigerians to fully assess Joh Enoh on the job. The country's senior football team, the Super Eagles haven't won the African Cup of Nations since the Stephen Keshi-led squad won it for Nigeria at South Africa 2013, exactly ten years ago. Nigerians now thoroughly tired of second or third place finishes, feel it is time the team that once ruled the continent on three different occasions in 1980, 1994 and 2013 made them smile again participating as a finalist at best bringing home the prestigious trophy.
In like manner have Nigeria's men and female national teams failed repeatedly to qualify for the football tournaments of the Olympics since Rio 2016.
Then, the Paris 2024 Olympics next year presents another litmus test about the country's readiness to end it's gold drought in the Olympics since the centennial event held in Atlanta in 1996, exactly 27 years ago.
Then, he will also be judged by how much he is able to avoid favouring certain sports above others or unduly meddling into the affairs of some sports federations. In like manner, he will be assessed on how well he helped convinced the Federal Government to increase its funding for sports in general, as well as how well he ensured that the country's age-grade sports is revived.
John Enoh is on the hot seat, and will keep being asked tough questions, daily, about the direction sports is heading in Nigeria. He is expected to daily provide those answers until probably the last day of his tenure. It is then his present efforts, when subjected to the most stringent test, can then be said to have passed with flying colours.
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