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| FG, signed a $3.7 million deal with offshore sports equipment manufacturers to equip no fewer than 1,000 primary schools across the federation with sport facilities. |
FEDERAL Government, weekend, signed a $3.7 million deal with offshore sports equipment manufacturers to equip no fewer than 1,000 primary schools across the federation with sport facilities.
The deal signed between the National Lottery Trust Fund and China Sports International Corporation Limited and CAAN Sports Organisation Limited, Turkey, will benefit nine primary schools in each senatorial district across the six-geo-political zones of the country.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, in Abuja, the Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Government Affairs, Kabiru Turaki, said the project was to increase the nation’s talent base, describing it as first of its kind in the history of Nigeria.
The minister further said that the project would correct negative impression in the society that government had failed to discover, nurture and promote talents at their tender age for a better result.
In his remarks, Executive Secretary of the NLTF, Engr. Habu Gumel, said the pact signed with the China firm was worth $2.8m, while the one with Turkey Company was $914, 967, adding that money for the deal was generated from lottery activities.
“The contracts involve the supply of various branded sports equipment covering nine types of sports designed for primary schools, namely; athletics, volleyball, football, handball, badminton, table tennis, basketball, judo and Taekwondo,” he said.
He noted that the intervention programme was designed to promote grassroots sports development, while expanding the nation’s talent base, by securing the interest and involvement of children of primary school age in sporting activities.
Gumel maintained that they had carried out survey and identified the beneficiaries.
“We intend to distribute sports equipment to about 1,000 primary schools nation-wide, with at least nine primary schools benefiting in each senatorial districts across the six geo-political zones, re-affirming our vision to promote social inclusion among all Nigerians.
“We have put n place a robust and comprehensive monitoring and evaluation system to help NLTF track the process of its intervention programmes.
