The
organization of formal sports dates back to 1910 with the introductionof empire
day competition which was organized on inter-school basis. The
establishment of mission schools in different parts of Nigeria, assisted in the
development of sports in that era. Though most of the sports were alien to
Nigerians, they were welcome because the served the common goal of recreation,
entertainment, social mobilization and promotion of unity in diversity.
Nigeria’s first participation in an International competition was in 1934, when
the late Dr.Azikiwe represented the country in 440 yards (400m) at the
Commonwealth and Empire day competitions in London (National Sports Commission, 2014).
The
first contingent recorded was the team that participated in the 1950
Commonwealth Games in Hamilton Canada. The 1952 Olympics in Helsinki
Finland and the first edition of the All Africa Games in 1965, Libreville
Congo. The involvement of government in sport dates back to 1962 with the
establishment of the National Sports Council, which functioned under the
Federal Ministry of Labour. This was later replaced by the National
Sports commission with the promulgation of decree 34 of 1971.
Realizing
the importance of sports, Government in 1975 upgraded the National Sports
Commission to ministerial status and appointed a Minister of cabinet rank to
oversee its affairs. In 1991, the National Sports commission re-emerged
with the promulgation of that year. This body which became a parastatal
under the Ministry of youth and sports was mainly responsible for the
administration of sports in the country through the National Sports
Associations (National
Sports Commission, 2014). In
1995, the National Sports Commission was scrapped and the Ministry of Youth and
Sports took over its functions. In 2007, the Ministry of Sports and
Social Development was scrapped again and replaced by the present National
Sports Commission, which is yet to enjoy legal backing through promulgation of
an act by the National Assembly. The National Sports Commission (NSC) is the
apex Federal Government Agency charged with the responsibility of implementing
the policy and programmes of the Federal Government with respect to sports
administration, management and facilities development. The NSC as it is
called now has gone through series of changes in nomenclature and merged in
different forms as stated below:
|
S/N
|
Nomenclature
|
Years
|
|
1
|
National Sports Council
|
1962 – 1963
|
|
2
|
Ministry of Labour
|
1964 – 1975
|
|
3
|
Ministry of Social Development, Youth and
Sports
|
1975 – 1979
|
|
4
|
Ministry of Youth and Culture
|
1979 – 1982
|
|
5
|
Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture
|
1982 – 1990
|
|
6
|
Ministry of Youth and Sports
|
1990 – 1992
|
|
7
|
National Sports Commission
|
1992 – 1995
|
|
8
|
Ministry of Youth and Sports
|
1995 – 1999
|
|
9
|
Ministry of Sports and Social Development
|
1999 – 2007
|
|
10
|
National Sports Commission
|
2007 Till Date
|
|
The NSC presently has the Honourable Minister/Chairman as
its political head and Chief Executive , while the Director General is
the Administrative head and Accounting Officer. The commission is currently
structured into six departments as follows:-
|
National Sports Federations and elite Athletes Department
(FEAD)
·
National
Sports Federations Division
·
Coaching
Division
·
Elite
Athletes Division
Grass root Sports Department:
o International (Military/Para-military
Sports)
o Schools/Collegiate Division.
o Zonal offices affairs Division
Sports Planning, Research and Documentation Department
§ Sports Planning Division
§ Research and Documentation
§ Marketing
§ Procurement
Sports Medicine Department
§ Clinical services
§ Psychology and Physiology
§ Doping control and pharmacy
Facilities and Stadia Management Department:
§ Utilization, Management and maintenance
Division
§ Engineering Services Division
Human Resources Management and Finance Department:
§ Appointment, Promotion and Discipline
§ Training and Staff Welfare
§ Finance and Accounts et
The Commission also has six Units:-
a)
Internal
Audit
b)
Legal
c)
Information
and Protocol
d)
Reform
e)
ICT
Philosophy
of Sports in Nigeria
The
philosophy of sport in Nigeria is to encourage participation in sport as an
avenue for enhancement of health, exhibition of innate physical attribute,
expression of talents, skills and alleviation of poverty.
Vision Statement
To
develop sports sector to a world class level
Mission Statement
To
Provide Improvement of quality of Life for the Entire Citizenry
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