Sports, Nation Building and Sustainable Development by Prof. Sabitu Olagoke

Nation building involves creating both a sense of pride in one's country and enhancing a country's status in the eyes of other nations, which naturally is one of the ways to build national unity. Sport is one of the ways because it creates a unified goal and brands all differing groups in a nation under one banner.

Sports is an enabler of sustainable development through the growing contribution of sports to the realization of development and peace, the promotion of tolerance and respect, and the contributions it makes to the empowerment of women and of young people, individuals and communities, as well as to health, education and social inclusion objectives.

Realizing the Full Potential of Aport for Sustainable Development Goals The unifying factor of sports notwithstanding, there are still challenges to fulfillment of its true potential.

Too often there are incidences of intolerance, racism, hatred and violence during sports events. Like many other areas, corruption also affects sports.

Sports organizations, managers, players and fans must do all that is possible to combat this illness and fully harness the positive power of sports. Stakeholders, therefore, should keep fighting abuses, promote the adoption of good governance, integrity and transparency, which places sustainable development goals at the core of all sporting organizations.

Harnessing the tremendous potential of sports by bringing people together from mega-sporting events to grassroots activities through its physical activities provides various social and health benefits.

Fundamental to the true enhancement of global development and the realization of the SDGs, is the establishment of strong and cohesive partnerships among diverse stakeholder networks committed to the use of sports for sustainable development.

The primary focus of extracurricular activities and sports is to teach discipline, focus, dedication, hard work, commitment and team work. And it is our responsibility as adults to value sportsmanship and award the courage to take action rather than focusing on winning or losing. Our slogan, therefore, is that we should all, the youth in particular, say, ''No'' to Thuggery, Hooliganism and Violence, but embrace the spirit of healthy competition for love, unity and improve networking and competence.

This address was delivered by Prof. Olagoke  at the 18th edition of the Rasool Cup-Under 18 Football Competition