ASABAA/Nigeria: In a passionate plea, Hon. Daniel Igali, the Sports Commissioner of Bayelsa State, has urged the Nigerian government to grant sports icons ambassadorial roles accompanied by diplomatic passports. Igali made this compelling call during a press conference in Asaba, Delta State, emphasizing the positive impact such a move could have on Nigeria’s image both domestically and internationally.
Igali firmly asserted that conferring ambassadorial roles with diplomatic passports upon athletes would bestow upon them the respect and recognition they deserve as they actively contribute to building the nation’s reputation through sports.
He highlighted the practices of other countries, where distinguished sports figures are granted similar positions in recognition of their outstanding achievements in the world of sports.
Moreover, Igali reiterated the pressing need for a substantial increase in the sports budget, envisioning a transformation that would elevate sports from the grassroots to a higher level of performance. He questioned why governments at various levels should hesitate to allocate sufficient resources for sports when significant sums are spent on detaining miscreants, street urchins, and drug addicts.
Igali stressed that many nations effectively employ sports as a tool to mitigate youth unrest, combat social vices, and address illiteracy within their societies. He passionately called upon the Nigerian government to allocate substantial funds to empower the country’s youth through sports, fostering unity and national cohesion.
Reflecting on his own achievements, the commissioner, who made history as Canada’s first gold medalist in wrestling, highlighted his successful tenure as the sports boss in Bayelsa since his appointment in 2013. He noted that during his tenure, there have been significant successes and victories not only in wrestling but also in various other sports.
Igali proudly mentioned his recent accomplishment of leading a contingent of 456 participants to compete in 32 out of 35 sporting events, providing opportunities for more youth to be engaged and move away from life on the streets.
In closing, Igali implored the Nigerian government, particularly the Ministry of Sports, to allocate adequate funds to support sports and harness the patriotic and creative potential of the nation’s youth, thereby promoting unity and progress throughout the country. He also highlighted the remarkable improvement in Nigeria’s wrestling scene during his tenure as the Wrestling Federation President, with gold medals returning to the country after a prolonged absence since 1980.
