The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has underscored the Ministry’s renewed efforts to revitalize sports in tertiary institutions as a key strategy for fostering national unity and nurturing young talents for competitiveness in the global sporting market.
Alausa made this announcement in Abuja on Friday during an award presentation ceremony at the 43rd edition of the Annual Public Service Games following the Federal Ministry of Education Sports Club’s outstanding performance during the competition.
At the event, the Ministry’s sports club earned an impressive haul of accolades, including five gold medals, five silver medals, four bronze medals, and two trophies.
Receiving these awards, the minister emphasized the ministry’s dedication to expanding sports programs, highlighting the establishment of a bilateral committee tasked with rejuvenating sports across tertiary institutions.
He said: “Sports play a pivotal role in building unity, and with President Bola Tinubu’s budgetary support, we are reviving major tertiary sports events such as NUGA, NIPOGA, NICEGA, and the Principal cups for our Unity Schools.”
The committee comprises Directors from University, Polytechnics, and Colleges of education, who will oversee the design and execution of these games.
Earlier, President Bola Tinubu had approved funding for six Outside Broadcast (OB) vans to support the coverage and promotion of these events.
During the event, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, acknowledged Dr. Alausa’s transformative leadership, crediting it for the Ministry’s recent successes. He expressed appreciation for the dedication of the sports club and reflected on the motivational message delivered to the team before their departure for the competition, which fostered a sense of determination and confidence.
Also, Director Reforms, Dr. Yusuf Saeed, commended the Minister’s unwavering commitment, attributing the achievement of six prestigious awards, including Best-Performing Ministerial Service and Best Supporting Executive Officer, to his visionary leadership. He further emphasized the Ministry’s goal of attaining even greater milestones in the future, acknowledging the team’s total haul of 14 awards, including two trophies.
In his speech at the forum, Assistant Director, Charles Muibi, highlighted the need to recruit younger players to sustain the club’s success, noting that many current players have been competing for over a decade, adding that “with fresh talent and continued support, we are confident of even better results in the future.”
Similarly, the Ministry’s Sports Manager, Alli Tajudeen, reassured the Minister of the club’s determination to achieve greater victories in upcoming competitions.
The event ended with the presentation of six additional awards won by the Servicom Unit, reflecting the ministry’s culture of excellence and dedication to continuous improvement.
