Dalung bemoans scrapping of sports, physical education in schools

The Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Barrister Solomon Dalung has decried the scrapping of sports and physical education in the nation’s schools curriculum.

He expressed his displeasure during the launching of Nigeria Sports Book of Records (1884-2017) authored by Mr Nicholas Kwanta at the Exhibition and Pavilion Events Abuja yesterday.

Dalung praised the author for making efforts to appreciate the youths who form the fulcrum of the national development through sports.

“This is the first effort to document the evolution of sports development in Nigeria. It is also in recognition of young Nigerians who truly their energies and talents have been able to make the Centre in country proud, to position our image nationally and globally.

“Institutional sports which include school sports was the foundation of the glorious years in Nigeria. We got to a point physical education was eliminated in our schools,” he said.

He however, revealed that the sports ministry and the ministry of education are collaborating to reintroduce sports into schools.

“There is a synergy between the Sports Ministry and the Ministry of education for the compulsory introduction of school sports and physical education because that is the foundation of sports development and we cannot do without it,” he noted.

Also speaking, the author, Kwanta said he wrote the book because he saw the need to during his NYSC days at the National Sports Commission.

“I saw a vacuum that needed to be filled during my youth service days at the Sports Ministry because of my interest in research and sports.”

“My passion for sports I needed to know about my country’s history in sports. Unfortunately, that was not readily available,” he said.

He noted that the book will be updated regularly to document new achievements in sports as they occur yearly.