From Abel Leonard, Lafia
The Bayelsa State Commissioner for Sports, President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, and former Olympic Champion, Hon Daniel Igali, has pledged to sponsor the training of Juan Emmanuel, an 8-year-old wrestling prodigy from Nasarawa State.
Speaking during a briefing with sports writers on Wednesday at the ongoing 8th National Under-15 Youth Games in Asaba, Igali shared his admiration for Juan’s determination and enthusiasm. Despite competing in the 36kg weight category, she naturally belongs to the 32kg category, a testament to her resilience.
Igali, a former Olympic champion, emphasised the importance of nurturing young talent, pointing out that Juan’s age is ideal for proper grooming. As part of his commitment to her development, he expressed his intention to support her training journey.
After serving as President of the Wrestling Federation for 12 years, Igali announced he would not seek re-election. Reflecting on his tenure, he revealed that the federation had not received any government funding during this period. Instead, it relied on his personal contributions and support from board members to sustain the athletes’ training and participation in competitions.
In his assessment of Nigeria’s sports development, Igali identified several challenges. Key among them was the lack of financial support from the Federal Ministry of Sports, which only provides funding for competitions but not for long-term athlete development.
He noted that this has had a direct impact on the performance of athletes, who often suffer from insufficient preparation due to inadequate training programmes.
“Nigeria is falling behind in sports because there is no investment in long-term training. We don’t have enough coaches for Cadet, Under-17, and Under-20 athletes, which affects their preparation for international competitions,” Igali remarked.
He also pointed out the lack of international referees within the Wrestling Federation, attributing this to budget constraints and limited training opportunities.
As a way forward, Igali called for a more structured approach to sports development in Nigeria. He cited examples from China and Russia, where governments play a key role in facilitating corporate sponsorship for athletes and sporting bodies.
He stressed the need for a comprehensive sports policy that focusses on adequate funding and investment in grassroots programmes to produce world-class athletes.
“The time has come for Nigeria to adopt a strategic sports development policy that goes beyond funding competitions. We need to invest in our young talents from the grassroots and encourage corporate sponsorships,” Igali urged.
