Youth and Sports Development Minister, Sunday Dare, expressed satisfaction with his performance after serving for four years in office.

Dare, who took office in 2019, is set to leave his position this month as President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime comes to an end. However, he may potentially return to his current role as his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), continues to lead the country.

Reflecting on his achievements, Dare highlighted his efforts to improve the standard of sports in Nigeria.

He emphasized the success of the adopt-a-talent policy implemented under his administration, which has provided Nigerian athletes with opportunities to excel.

Additionally, he mentioned infrastructural development as part of his lasting legacy in the sector.

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Dare proudly stated that he revitalized the Abuja Stadium and initiated the renovation of the neglected National Stadium in Lagos, which had suffered from lack of funding under previous ministers.

Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, he deemed his tenure successful in navigating the impact on sports.

As he prepares to leave office, Dare revealed that the sports ministry is working on a sports and business policy aimed at helping sports federations secure independent funding without relying on the ministry or government support.

He acknowledged that many federations would struggle without government funding, so the policy aims to facilitate partnerships between federations and corporate entities, allowing federations to seek sponsorship and take advantage of privileges granted to them.

Dare expressed his commitment to improving his relationship with athletes and understanding their demands to avoid conflicts that may lead to protests.

He also addressed the issue of the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup and the subsequent dismissal of German coach Gernot Rohr.

Regarding Rohr’s dismissal, Dare stated that his faith in the coach was lost after the Super Eagles’ match against Sierra Leone, where they allowed a four-goal lead to turn into a draw.

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He explained that extensive consultations were made, including with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) board, and the consensus was that Rohr was not the right fit for the team.

The decision on the future of the current Super Eagles coach lies with the NFF, which has the responsibility of evaluating his performance.