Governing Bodies
Nigeria’s sports minister hails contributions by citizens in the diaspora
Nigeria’s Minister of Sports Development, John Owan Enoh has praised the patriotism and contributions of Nigerians in diaspora to nation building.
Delivering his remarks titled, “Engaging with the Diaspora in Engineering Sports for National Development” during the Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit, organized by Nigerians in Diaspora Commission and Nigeria Diaspora Summit Initiative in Abuja on Tuesday, the Minister stated that Nigeria’s diaspora community has over the years made outstanding contributions to the country’s economy to an extent that they now hold such importance and relevance in Nigeria’s story of nation building.
Senator Owan Enoh noted that sustained increase in diaspora inflows into Nigeria makes it one of the fastest growing aspects of the global economy.
Buttressing his postulation, he said that a breakdown of figures from the World Bank showed that, as of 2015 diaspora remittance stood at $21.2bn; $19.7bn in 2016 and $22bn in 2017. In 2018, it rose up to $24.31bn; $23.81bn in 2019 and $17.21bn in 2020.
Remittances from Nigerians in diaspora in 2021 stood at $19.2bn and $20.9bn in 2022. In total, the sum of $168 billion was sent home by Nigerians in diaspora between 2015 and 2022.
Senator Enoh described them as unrepentant believers in the greatness of Nigeria and embodiments of patriotism, noting that their remittances have played a key role in assuaging the impact of foreign exchange scarcity and in keeping the country’s forex reserve afloat.
He said that as minister of Sports Development, he would draw a new vision for Nigerian sports (2023-2031), rebranding Nigeria’s sports profile, improve the value proposition map and fit into place, templates on which the future of sports shall depend.
According to him, the capacity of sports to transform and improve the physical, psychological, emotional and social wellbeing of individuals and the significant role that it plays in cultures and communities around the world are enough to justify huge investments in sports.
He added that if the potentials of the sports sector is fully harnessed, it could contribute 7% to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“Our Vision in the Ministry of Sports Development is to establish a thriving sports industry that contributes over 7 per cent to the national GDP with an annual net evaluation of over 3 billion dollars by 2027” Enoh said.
“I envision the enablement of a multi-trillion naira sports industry that promotes excellence in sports and fosters talent development.”
He observed that although the development community had marginalized sports, he aligned himself to the unfolding international movement which recognizes that sports does not have to compete with other development priorities but can instead be a powerful means for addressing them.
The Minister stressed that what was needed to surmount the challenges facing sports in Nigeria is the right strategy to set it in the right direction.
He canvassed for enduring partnership between the government and the private sector to get things going in the right direction.
Under his leadership, he identified activating and enabling a welfare system that caters for serving and retired athletes, activation of sports business industry, funding of sports development as some of the focus areas of the ministry.
FIFA’s independent Ethics Committee has banned former Guyana Football Federation (GFF) General Secretary Ian Alves from all football-related activities for five years after finding he sexually harassed female staff members.
FIFA also fined Alves 20,000 Swiss francs ($22,000) after determining that he had breached provisions of the FIFA Code of Ethics relating to the protection of physical and mental integrity, abuse of position and general duties.
“FIFA has a strict stance against all forms of abuse in football,” the organisation said on Monday.
The decision followed a review of written statements from the victims, documents provided by the GFF, submissions from Alves, and other evidence gathered during the investigation.
Alves stepped down from his position in 2024.
The ban came into force on Monday, when the terms of the decision were notified to Alves, and the full grounds for the ruling will be communicated within 60 days in accordance with the Code of Ethics, FIFA added.
The GFF did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Alves could not immediately be reached for comment.
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FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on Thursday that he planned to seek re-election for a fourth term in a bid to continue to lead the governing body of world soccer.
Infantino confirmed he would run for the 2027–2031 term in the closing moments of the FIFA Congress in Vancouver, which comes less than two months before the start of the World Cup.
The election will be held on March 18 in Morocco, which is set to co-host the 2030 World Cup.
Infantino said he was “honoured and humbled” to have the chance to run for a fourth term.
The Italian-Swiss took office in 2016, replacing Sepp Blatter, and was re-elected unopposed in 2019 and 2023.
Infantino has pushed for the expansion of FIFA competitions during his tenure, with this year’s World Cup in North America the first to feature 48 teams, while the women’s tournament in 2023 has been expanded to 32 teams.
Infantino’s tenure has also drawn some criticism over issues such as high World Cup ticket prices and the decision to award the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize to U.S. President Donald Trump at the World Cup draw in December.
Earlier this month, the council of South American football’s governing body (CONMEBOL) said in a statement it would unanimously support the 56-year-old if he decided to seek another term.
-Reuters
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The supporters of Vancouver Whitecaps, a professional football (soccer) club in Canada, have staged a protest outside the FIFA Congress on Thursday, voicing fears that the Major League Soccer club could be relocated as uncertainty deepens over its ownership and long-term future.
The club is one of Canada’s most historic football institutions and has long been a central part of Vancouver’s sporting identity.
Around 100 fans gathered as delegates arrived for the annual FIFA meeting in Vancouver, chanting, singing and waving club flags in a show of solidarity. The demonstration comes just days after Vancouver Whitecaps FC revealed difficulties in securing a buyer willing to keep the club in the city.
The Whitecaps disclosed earlier this week that “stadium economics, venue access and revenue limitations” have complicated efforts to sell the club, despite a 16-month search for new ownership.
Season ticket holder Derek Hawksworth said supporters felt compelled to act amid growing fears of relocation.
“I wanted to come down given the threat of the team possibly moving,” he said. “It’s a rich history with the Whitecaps in North America… we want Vancouver to stay and not relocate. The history is here, and we want to continue with that history moving forward.”
The Vancouver Whitecaps are a professional football (soccer) club based in Vancouver, Canada. They currently compete in Major League Soccer (MLS), the top-tier league in the United States and Canada.
Concerns were heightened by reports that cities such as Las Vegas and Phoenix are leading contenders should the club relocate.
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim has urged intervention, calling on the provincial government — which owns BC Place — to negotiate a “bridge deal” that would allow the team to remain while plans for a new stadium are explored. The club’s current lease at BC Place expires at the end of the year.
Despite the off-field uncertainty, the Whitecaps have been one of the standout teams this MLS season. They currently sit second in the Western Conference with 24 points from nine matches, just three points behind the San Jose Earthquakes.
For supporters, however, performances on the pitch offer little comfort as the future of their club hangs in the balance — a situation they hope global football leaders gathering in Vancouver will not ignore.
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