Sports Minister Dusts Up 10-Year Football Masterplan, Tasks NFF on Implementation

The Honourable Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh has tasked the Nigerian Football Federation to take deliberate actions on the implementation of the 10-year football development masterplan, developed in 2022.

Senator Enoh made the call during a meeting with the executive board of the NFF, as he passionately rallied stakeholders to ensure football, which represents a tool of national unification, develops across all spheres, including but not limited to the domestic league, infrastructure, coaches’ education, referees’ development, etc.

He said that the Government is dedicated to fostering a national football culture that embraces international standards, and will support the establishment of a robust framework for domestic football. He added that the Ministry is fixated on creating a value chain that enhances the overall sports ecosystem.

“We have in place the 10-year football development master plan,” the Minister said. “NFF has to take conscious and deliberate steps on the implementation of this plan.”

The Minister reiterated the need to focus on football as a business, grassroots development, infrastructural growth, increased investments, and provide incentives for investors.

According to him, this approach will guarantee a heightened emphasis on business opportunities throughout the sports value chain, governance structure, and standardization, and improve the welfare and education of players.

He concluded that attention will be to establishing sustainable, and strategic youth development programmes, improving club administration, and fostering positive development of stakeholders. This encompasses referees, players’ unions, coaches associations, supporters, and investors, as well as local and international partnerships and collaborations.