Professionalism
By Mariam Akande/Olanrewaju Akojede
Lagos, June 21, 2018 (NAN) Participants at the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) Solidarity Sports Administration thre-day seminar has called for more professionalism among sports administrators to enhance efficiency.
The participants made the call in interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the IOC/NOC Capacity Building and Training for Nigeria Association for Physical Health Education, Recreation, Sports and Dance (NAPHER-SD).
NAN reports that the seminar, organised by NOC in collaboration with NAPHER-SD, ended at the NOC Conference Hall, National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos on Thursday.
The 38 delegate’s, made up of sports administrators from across the country, were drawn from various universities, colleges of education and other stakeholders.
Astute sports administration were on hand to give lectures on important topics.
Some of the lecture titles include “The Olympic Values”, “Importance of Sports to Individuals”, “Managing People” and “Assessing Staff and Volunteer Training Needs”.
A Deputy Director, Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports, Mr Peter Nelson, said that education remained the best way to get professionalism out of sports administrators.
“We need professionalism among our sports administrators. They need training in doing things right and that is the essence of this seminar.
“With this refresher course and quality of people around, I believe that we are going to get at least 98 per cent to 100 per cent of the knowledge needed.
“Sports administration is no longer a jamboree; it is true we have funding challenges, but we must manage the few resources available,’’ he said.
Contributing, the Director of Sports Administration, National Sports Commission (NSC), Toyin Aluko, called for active sports persons to take up the responsibility of the administration.
“I want those that have felt the heat of sports; those that are real athletes to rise up to the responsibility of engaging in policy articulation and implementation.
“Things are changing all over the world. Those that have at one time or the other participated as athletes are now into the administration, changing the face of sports,’’ she said.
Also, the National Secretary of NAPHER-SD, Hakeem Olukunga, said that going by the golden rule of administration, professionalism was the key to any success.
“ Nigeria depends largely on the capacity building of sports administrators and just as the golden rule in sports says, you can’t produce golden athletes when you do not have golden administrators.
“We have initiated so many programmes to capture the interest of the public and contribute effectively to sports development in Nigeria,’’ he said.
A participant, Olalusi Mary, from Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, said she was satisfied with the knowledge gained from the refreshers course which would enhance her professionalism.
“It is knowledge about sports administration and more about Olympic programmes more than what we know during our undergraduate days,’’ she said.
Another participant, Eyitayo Iyilola, a graduate of Human Kinetics, University of Ibadan, said that sports administration needed lots of professionalism to achieve success.
“Sports administration needs a lot of professionalism, the way they interact with the athletes, feel their impulse and know how to put them to efficiency is key to success.
“Sports administrators need to be more professional, acquire more knowledge and this can only be got through seminars like this; this is key to our development,’’ she said. (NAN)
OMA/KOJE/CEO/PDE
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(Edited by Chidi Opara/Peter Ejiofor)