Minister of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare, has disclosed the shortfall in funds needful for am adequate preparation of team Nigeria for next year’s Olympic games in Tokyo, noting that Nigeria needs a sum of N14bn while the ministry has just N2bn in their budget, Sports Extra reports.
Dare made this known while he spoke at the launching of “the Adopt Campaign” in Lagos urged the corporate world to throw their weight behind the government to help keep the hopes of the athletes alive by supporting the initiative.
According to him, “The hope of the athlete is to be at the Olympics or the World Championship for their sport, to stand on the podium, and fly their country’s flag.”
“They want to be the reasons why Nigeria’s flag should be hoisted and the national anthem is sung while the world watches. This is their reward but it is also our honour and prestige, and pride among nations.
“To prepare for the Olympics, we need about N14bn and what we have in our budget is less than N2bn.
“This is why we want the corporate world to come in and support our quest to do well at the Olympics. Government cannot do it alone.
Meanwhile, Business mogul Sir Kessington Adebutu, also known as ‘Baba Ijebu’, agreed to renovate the National Stadium.
