Guardian

NIGERIA Academicals Sports Committee (NASCOM) says it is not currently organising competitions because it does not want to derail from its objectives.

According to the Chairman of NASCOM, Yemi Idowu, one of the key mandates include the need to support stakeholders in school sports, as well as, develop a sustainable structure for school sports and not to compete with already organised bodies like Nigeria School Sports Federation (NSSF), Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON) and other relevant stakeholders in staging tournaments.

“For us at NASCOM we will like to support stakeholders in school sports because we believe that they are relevant to improving sports in schools. We are not going to rival any of these bodies but to support them in their efforts to improve sports in schools.

“The board of NASCOM has been charged with the mandate of reviewing and evolving a structure, as well as, organization of academicals sports competition in the relevant sports disciplines in order to strengthen school sports,” he said.

“NASCOM is also charged with the responsibility of enhancing talent identification, establish effective private sector participation by seeking sponsorships for academicals sports competitions while collaborating and partnering with key stakeholders. The body is also expected to carry out effective Diaspora grassroots talents discovery and nurturing in the relevant academicals sports,” Idowu added.

In furtherance of its mandate to revolutionalise grassroots sports, Idowu said NASCOM has initiated an exciting youth-friendly campaigned tagged: Rhythm ‘N’ Play, which is aimed at enhancing mass youth participation in sporting activities and age grade competitions.

Rhythm ‘N’ Play will be officially launched by President Goodluck Jonathan will on Thursday June 6 in Abuja

“Rhythm ‘N’ Play is a brand created by NASCOM and will serve as its flagship campaign to drive and revolutionise grassroots sports in Nigeria. Rhythm ‘N’ Play will rely heavily on the use of music, celebrities, volunteers, new media and other elements of pop culture to amplify and realise its objectives.

“Mr. President will launch the campaign on June 6, first in Abuja, and later on June 14, in London, United Kingdom (UK) targeting the Nigerian youths in Diaspora. The launch in the UK is to create a model for Nigerians in other countries of the world to follow.

“We also have NASCOM members in Diaspora that are also expected to coordinate activities over there. Mind you government does not need to spend any money. It is expected to be driven by the people themselves with the children being the main targets,” he said.