NAIJA MATTERS

THE COMMON WEALTH GAMES AND A NATION’S POTENTIAL

As I write this piece, the curtains are being drawn on the XIX Common wealth Games,2010, held in New Delhi India( 4-11th October, 2010). Nigeria obtained a total medals haul of eleven gold, nine silver and fourteen bronze medals respectively, making her the ninth best team overall and the third best African representative behind South Africa and Kenya. In addition, it has to be said that this has been her best performance at the games since her participation at the 1994 edition in Victoria, Canada.
I was privileged to watch some of the events that raked in the medals for us; the weight and power lifters (the latter displayed awesome ability in disability) were simply a delight to watch. They went about their business with such dedication and passion that once again renewed one’s belief in the project called Nigeria. Did I also mention that their emotional and –more often the not- colorful celebration, at each victory, added to the pomp and ceremony of the games and were a focal point of many a discussion?
And this is not detracting from the valiant efforts of the other Nigerians who missed the medals bracket but nevertheless gave it their best shot and were willing to fight another day.
Overall, these sports men and women-the ladies, by the way contributed more gold medals to the total haul- have once again brought to the fore, the potential for success, embedded in the heart and mind of the average Nigerian. We are indeed a great people, with the potential of attaining the status of a great nation. The missing part in the equation is and has always been the dearth of an enabling environment
In the run-up to the Delhi games, a head of one of the sports’ associations in the country, was exasperated that his charges could not embark on a foreign trip for needed exposure and conditioning due to a lack of funds.They had to make do with some contrived camping here on our shores (again, you’d wonder why millions are spent on foreign training trips, when we could easily procure the needed manpower and equipment). In departing for the games, our contingent left in bits and pieces. At the games proper, I observed –and I stand to be corrected- that our participants wore different sports wears and kits, in varying shades of our national colors. In another development, it was alleged that a medal prospect in the sprints; Blessing Okagbare, refused to feature for Nigeria, over some disagreement she had with the nation’s sports administrators. These and many more a sad commentary on our national state of affairs.
However, I would rather focus my energies on policies I believe will bequeath to us desirable results. Beginning with sports and with the Olympic Games London 2012 fast approaching, massive resources should now be geared toward further intensive preparations for our gallant contingent to the Delhi Games and other potential hopefuls. Put aside government’s mantra about private sector funding and the present battle between scarce resources and MANY, MANY competing ends. This is my take on these issues; first to attract private funding to any endeavor, such an endeavour must have garnered consistent accolades and possess enduring structures that are primed for success. Has our sports achieved success over the years and on a consistent basis? Yes, we have achieved relative success and no-not on a consistent basis!
Secondly, a nation that can afford to spend a third of its yearly budget on the salaries and emoluments of public officials and aides (more on this issue at a later time), must as a matter of necessity ,re-prioritize and channel such needed funds to endeavors that will bring visible dividends to the nation, through an avenue such as sports.
On a final note, the feat achieved by these our ambassadors should not go unsung, rather they should , in addition to receiving adequate compensatory packages, be accorded national honors for their exploits, that have put Nigeria in good stead in the sporting arena! The question now is not what the average Nigerian can do for Nigeria but what Nigeria can do for the average Nigerian! All the best!