Sports minister, Solomon Dalung has revealed why the National Sports Festival is holding ten years after the last edition.
The 2018 National Sports Festival, NSF, has been billed to hold between December 6, 2018 and December 16, 2018.
The event calender was announced at a press conference which held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja on Tuesday, September 11, 2018.
At the press briefing, it was disclosed that part of the 3-month build up Pre-Festival Benefit Concerts would be held on Saturday, September 15 at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja with features from Nigerian A-list artistes.
Speaking at the press conference the honourable Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Solomon Dalung disclosed that the event that has been suspended since 2012, would be take place again this year in Abuja, FCT.
Dalung speaks about National Sports Festival
"Several states have indicated interest to host this biennial festival without success as they usually back out at the last minute due to diverse reasons.
"Therefore, given this state of affairs, the Ministry in consultation with relevant stakeholders, undertook a comprehensive reappraisal of the situation with a view to arriving at the way forward for this iconic event.
"After this soul searching, we reached the unanimous decision that it is time for a holistic review of the existing model for hosting this national event.
"So having taken due cognisance of the challenges facing most states of the federation which were hitherto the established hosts of this festival; we decided that the way forward is to involve the private sector in the organisation, marketing and administration of the NSF’’ he said.
National Sports Festival to hold for next 10 years
Dalung further said it was this consideration that led the sports ministry, after exhaustive deliberation, to partner with Greenfield Assets Limited, to form the special purpose vehicle, National Sports Festival Marketing and Management Company Limited.
The company, it was also gathered, has been given the mandate to organise, market and administer this festival for the next ten years.
The 2018 event, is being organised and managed by the National Sports Festival Marketing and Management Company Limited; a private sector driven initiative by Greenfield Assets Limited in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Youth & Sports Development.
source https://www.pulse.ng/sports/athletics/dalung-announces-dates-for-2018-national-sports-festival-id7422634.html
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