Physical education and participation in sports are now to be made compulsory in primary and secondary schools across the country.
This directive was given by President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday while launching a programme tagged ‘Rhythm n Play Campaign for Grassroots Sports Mobilisation’ aimed at discovering 2million talents in sports in the next two years.
The President promised that his administration would eradicate impediments such as lack of sports coaches in schools and colleges, which hindered the development of talents in the past.
He explained that the campaign is as a result of the Presidential retreat on sports which was convened in 2012 to analyse challenges in the sports sector and come up with a clear road map for its development in the short, medium and long terms.
He noted that sport is an important vehicle for fostering cohesion and nation building. “This has been amply demonstrated in the greater attention government has given to sports development. In National competitions, it mirrors our pride, emotion, unity and discipline. Aside from these obvious benefits that sporting glory brings, it is also a major tool for youth development.”
The President explained that the Rhythm N’ Play programme is aimed at providing young Nigerians under the age of 17 years, with structured programmes that combine sports and play as critical learning and development tools.
President Jonathan described it as the biggest campaign for youth participation in sports ever launched in Nigeria. “This initiative will revolutionize grassroots sports in our dear nation. Our target is to introduce 2 million additional children to sports over the next two years” he declared.
He therefore directed the National Sports Commission and the Federal Ministry of Education, to work in concert and ensure that physical education is returned into schools, where “participation in sports activities compulsory for all pupils and students.”
He acknowledged that there are fundamental constraints facing this initiative, such as inadequate sporting facilities and qualified coaches in the majority of our educational institutions.
“Nevertheless, we are determined to reverse this situation. We will overcome existing constraints by articulating cost efficient solutions to empower children and facilitate greater interest and participation in sports” he stated.
