PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY SENATOR ANYIM PIUS ANYIM,
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA AT
THE NATIONAL SPORTS LOTTERY NATIONAL LAUNCH
AT LADI KWALI HALL, SHERATON HOTEL AND TOWERS, ABUJA ON
TUESDAY. AUGUST 14. 2001
PROTOCOLS
It is my delight to be with you today as we mark another landmark in the life of our new democratic experience. Today’s public launching of the National Sports Lottery, (NSL), is an indication of the growing confidence of foreign investors in our economy since the advent of the third republic and as a result of our new democratic dispensation. The National Sports Lottery is a veritable dividend of democracy and it is indicative of the type of enduring legacy that our administration will bequeath to the sports sector and indeed to other segments of our national life. There is on doubt that as a people, Nigerians love sports and that sports has come to represent the single most unifying factor in our nation. When our sportsmen and women take part in international competitions, Or when our teams play, Nigerians are solidly behind them, as one country. At such moments, it would not matter who we are, what language we speak, where we are from, or what we believe in. At such moments, all we believe and all we want is for Nigeria to win.
However, the nations sports are _bedevilled with myriads of problems including Funding. Up till this point, the Federal Government has almost exclusively funded sports with minimal participation from the private sector.
The investments required in infrastructure, training and equipment are enormous and are mostly borne by Government. Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, our commitment to sports is evident in the construction of the N38 billion Abuja National Stadium, where we hope to host the youth of Africa in 2003 at the All Africa Games.
The estimated cost of hosting the All Africa Games is put at N7 billion. Our commitment to sports can also be judged from the number of international competitions that our youths have attended since the advent of this administration.
We were at the All Africa Games in Johannesburg, South Africa; at the 27′ Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. We were at the World’s Women Football Championship in United States of America, and at the second edition of the Africa Women Championship also in South Africa. We also look forward to seeing our youth perform at the Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games and Ladies and Gentlemen, Our 3rd consecutive appearance in the World Cup at Japan/Korea 2002.
our commitment to sports is irrevocable. But, much as the Federal Government would like to allocate more resources to sports, I must confess that there are also other areas that are equally competing for attention, some even, greater need.
However, we are committed to providing more enduring solutions to the myriads of problems which hamper the development of our sports.
The National Spurs Later would affect the lives of Nigerians positively in many ways. It will create jobs, provide opportunities for the winners to have access to new sources of income, while contributing to sports development.
The aparumnlis tor spans, from the projections of the National Sports Lottery are great. The allocation of 30 per cent of the Lottery’s income, after prizes and direct costs, to sports development iS a move that this Government Supports.
The Federal established Government has the NATIONAL SPORTS TRUST FUND (NSTF) whose source of inflow will be the remittance from National Sports Lottery Limited, to be used for Sports Development. to achieve this laudable objectives of equitable distribution and impact.
On sports development, the Federal Government has appointed a Board of Trustees, comprised of able members cutting across the 6 geo-political zones of the country.
The distinguished members include:
• Chief Subomi Balogun, an astute Businessman, Banker and Current Chairman of First City Monument Bank
Chairman (Present Chief Balogun),
The Honourable Minister of Sports and Social Development, VICE
• Chief Kola Daisi, Chairman NIPC and National Sports Lottery,
• Chief Noeal Okorougo,
• Col. Kan-Giwa Umah,
• Chief Segun Odegbami and General Sam Teidi (Rtd),
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, the National Sports Lottery and the National Sports Trust Fund are a welcome development and deserve our support.
I will therefore encourage all Nigerians to embrace the noble objectives of the National Sports Lottery and patronize its products.
On behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, the President and Commander-in-Chief, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, I launch the National Sports Lottery and I URGE ALL NIGERIANS TO GIVE THE NATIONAL SPORTS LOTTERY THEIR FULL SUPPORT.
Thank you.
Chief Anyim Pius Anyim
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA