Spring Vision Koncept Limited, a private group, on Tuesday said it would hold a “National Sports Summit’’ in Abuja in December in conjunction with the National Sports Commission (NSC).
The Co-ordinator of the Summit, Martins Bisong, told newsmen in Abuja that the programme was scheduled for Dec. 7 to Dec. 11.
He said the summit has the theme “The Nigerian Sports Economy and Promotions: The Public-Private Partnership Perspective”.
“The summit is geared towards enhancing global development trends in Nigeria, and it is being organised under a public-private partnership synergy, with the sole objective of using it as a window to explore and reposition sports in the country,’’ Bisong said.
The co-ordinator said the event would be attended by captains of industries, top government functionaries and other major stakeholders to think of the way forward for sports in the country.
“Sports in Nigeria have challenges in the areas of sponsorship, marketing, facility enhancement and sustainability, human, capital and capacity resources mobilisation.
“In this perspective, the imperative for this summit and exhibition is to attract stakeholders from the public and private sectors to come together and build a consolidated synergy to exchange ideas, invest and support Nigerian sports transformation and development,” he said.
Bisong disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari was expected to declare the summit and exhibitions open, with the Chairman of Globacom, Mike Adenuga Jnr, also in attendance.
“President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Habu Gumel, will deliver a paper titled `Sports Promotions and Investment in Nigeria: The Public Sector Perspective’, while Jim Ovia will talk on the same issue but from the private sector perspective.
“Others expected to deliver papers include the Chief Executive Officer of Brila FM sports radio, Larry Izamoje who will talk on `Sports Advancement and Marketing in Nigeria: The future of Nigeria Sports’.
“Also, the chairman of Capital Oil and Gas and proprietor of FC IfeanyiUbah, Ifeanyi Ubah, will present a paper on `Sports Development and Funding: The Nigerian Challenge’,’’ he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the five-day summit will also have Michael Ikppoki, the Managing Director of MTN Communications, in attendance.