Towards creating a new dawn for Nigerian sports, the Federal Ministry of Sports has signed a landmark agreement with a top lottery company – Yanga Games – to raise the revenue profile of the ministry and ensure a new deal for the welfare of athletes.
Speaking during the unveiling of the partnership in Lagos on Friday, Chairman/CEO of Yanga Games, for Mr. Derrick David Kentebe, said: “We are so super excited by this opportunity to work with the Ministry of Sports Development to change the narrative about sports in the country. We see opportunity for marketing our athletes and sports generally. We shall avail ourselves the best use dot of this unique and special partnership. We shall pursue this mandate with vigor, passion and unrivaled commitment to bring benefits to all the critical stakeholders.
The agreement, according to Kentebe, will provide support for retired athletes, enhance grass root sports development and advance the potentials of special athletes.
He assured that “Yanga Games has the capacity to raise funds on behalf of the Ministry of Sports for athletes’ development, endorsement and sponsorship deals for athletes.”
Minister of Sports, Senator John Owan Enoh, assured that the ministry has total and absolute confidence in Yanga Games to deliver on the given mandate. “Gone is the era when we depended solely on government to fund sports development. We are partnering with Yanga Games to bring maximum benefits to the athletes and all critical stakeholders. We shall give institutional encouragement and support to the management of Yanga Games to succeed in this onerous task of rebuilding our sports sub sector.”
Kentebe said: “We shall raise about 34 billion in the next four years to assist athletes and improve sports in the country. We shall help to develop grass root sports and sustain youth involvement through raffle draws, fund raiser and other avenues.”
