Ex-Sports Minister Adedoja Critiques Nigeria's Sports Failures

Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, a former Minister of Sports and Special Duties, addressed the challenges facing Nigeria's sports development during the National Conference organized by the National Association for Physical, Health Education, Recreation, Sports and Dance (NAPHER-SD) at Bayero University, Kano, on Thursday. He stated that Nigeria's sports sector has been overly politicized, with ministerial appointments not based on professionalism.

Adedoja noted that he was the only professional among the 35 sports ministers appointed since Nigeria's independence. He emphasized the importance of physical education as the foundation for sports development, which he believes is currently neglected.

Adedoja also highlighted the growth of the Physical Education department at BUK, which has expanded from a one-man department to five departments, providing employment opportunities for students. Prof. Florence Bola-Adeyanju, President of NAPHER-SD, urged the government to collaborate with the association to address the declining state of sports in Nigeria, while Prof. Haruna-Musa, Vice-Chancellor of BUK, described the conference as historic and timely.