The director general of National Orientation Agency( NOA), Mal. Lanre Issa-Onilu, said sports is one of the seven items his agency intends to exploit in charting a new national value charter for the country.
He said Nigeria is still yet to codify those attributes that define what it means to be a Nigerian.
“Sports is one of the low hanging fruits NOA intends to exploit to bring about uniting Nigerians and properly defining the true Nigerian attribute,” Issa-Onilu said .
The NOA boss spoke when some members of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria(SWAN) Kwara State chapter visited him in Ilorin, the state capital.
“In Nigeria we have not invested in what makes a true Nigeria. We must have a unique identity as Nigerians. We must create institutions to do that.
“Sports is the easiest institution to create to help achieve this .A situation where Nigerians are fans of clubs in the English premiership is not the best for Nigeria,” he stated.
He explained that NOA is closely working with the minister of Sports, Senator John Enoh with a view to changing the culture to one which not only enhances the Nigerian brand and true character, but also helps in making sports a big business in the country.
“We are working towards two big projects which will impact the sports business in Nigeria and West Africa.That is the good thing about working with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I can assure you that this plan of ours did not just start today.
“It has always been my passion which the President shares passionately with me and some very key stakeholders in the sports and information industry,” Issa-Onilu added.
He promised that SWAN would be incorporated in the federal government’s plan to exploit sports to the benefit of the country.
The SWAN chairman, Ismail Ayodeji promised that the sports writers in Kwara are ready to support NOA in achieving its agenda.