The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, has said the ministry is contributing significantly to the development of sports for national integration.
He made this known when he received the president of the board of Organisation of Military Sports in Africa (OSMA), Brig. Gen. Mohammed Abdullahi in his office today (July 13) in Abuja.
Saying the participation in sporting activities is a very important ingredient for national integration and unity, Onu pointed out that sporting activities especially by military personnel in the Sahel region would create peace in the region and foster regional socio-economic development.
“Sporting activities will place emphasis on factors uniting these countries and downplay factors dividing us,” he said.
The minister stated that the ministry was contributing to the development of sports in Nigeria, explaining that the National Research Institute of Chemical Technology (NARICT), one of the ministry’s agencies, is involved in the production of world class footballs.
He reminded Nigerian youths to always bear in mind that they are the nation’s greatest asset and treasure and so must have immense faith in the country, urging them to contribute their quota to national development. He assured that the ministry would continue to support and conduct further research on sports development in the country.
Earlier, Abdullahi, said his organisation had made the minister its patron for the forthcoming Sahel Military Games in October which would be hosted by Nigeria and at which 16 nations would be participating.
