Federal Ministry of Youth and Sport Nigeria to harness sport for promoting peace and sustainable development

The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sport Nigeria has expressed its commitment towards harnessing sport for promoting peace and sustainable development. This was made known by the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sport, Barrister Solomon Dalung during an advocacy visit by CYSDP Africa Representative, Pharm. John Oluwadero, who aimed to advocate for the commitment of the Ministry of Youth and Sport towards promoting Sport for Development and Peace (SDP) best practices in Nigeria.

The visit was also aimed at seeking the advocacy support of the Minister towards the approval of CYSDP’s proposal on the importance of ‘The role of CYSDP and young people in strengthening Commonwealth Cooperation in Sport,’ which was presented at the 8th Commonwealth Sports’ Ministers Meeting on 4 August 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on the eve of the 2016 Olympic Games. Other members of the delegation included Mr. Akinkuade Akintade and Ms. Taiwo Teniade Adeniyi of the Better Nigeria Initiative.

While addressing the members, the Minister applauded the vision of the CYSDP towards engaging and empowering young people by fostering youth involvement and youth engagement in policies and strategies that affect young people. The Minister further expressed his commitment towards advocating and supporting the proposal of CYSDP towards establishing a National Youth Advisory Group on Sport for Development and Peace. The Minister advised young people to work hard towards making Nigeria great, as a great future does not come easy and cheap. He also advised that young people should invest in strength, mental ability and knowledge towards a guaranteed future.
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The Commonwealth Youth Sport for Development and Peace Working Group (CYSDP) was established in May 2013 and consists of a dynamic group of young SDP practitioners from across the Commonwealth regions who are committed to advocating, educating and demonstrating the power of sport towards best practices. Mr. Oluwadero and Ms. Adeola Taiwo, who are both from Nigeria, currently serve as the Africa Representatives for the network.

For more information on CYSDP, visit us at:
Website – http://www.yourcommonwealth.org/cysdp/
Facebook – Commonwealth Youth Sport for Development and Peace Working Group
Twitter – @CommYouthSDP