New Telegraph Confers Most Innovative Personality Of The Year Award on Minister of Sports

New Telegraph Confers Most Innovative Personality Of The Year Award on Minister of Sports By Niyi Busari Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare on Friday was being awarded with The Most Innovative Personality of The Year, 2021, BSNSports.com.ng reports. The award according to the New Telegraph Newspaper is in recognition of the minister’s innovative approach at repositioning the Sports and Youth Development in Nigeria. The management of New Telegraph Newspapers bestowed on the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare the award of the Most Innovative Personality Award (MIPA) of the year 2021 following his track record of the office he holds and the strides he has made in the Youth and Sports sector. “We followed your Adopt- an athlete initiative, rehabilitation of sporting facilities, the Talent Hunt Program, the Return of the Principals Cup after 25 years, Nigeria’s best performance in 13 years at the Olympics, the best performance ever at the World Junior Athletics Championship in Kenya with Nigeria coming 3rd, the reclassification of Sports from recreation to business, the Nigeria Youth Investment Fund (NYIF), Digital Skills, Employability, Entreprenuership and Leadership (DEEL) initiative are some landmark innovations you have brought to bear on Youth and sports development." The award organiser said. In his response, the Minister expressed appreciation to the Board, Management and Staff of New Telegraph for recognizing his contributions to national development. “This award comes as a surprise to me and it is the first I am receiving from a National newspaper. So, I accept the award and look forward to the ceremony. My being the Minister is not about the applause, but it is about the work and service. It is a privilege to be given the opportunity by Mr. President to serve. We have done so many things that are off the radar. The Surulere National Stadium abandoned for years, the master plan altered is now being remodeled, the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja has the latest technology scoreboard, just like Lagos . “We have cleaned up the decay, but we are not in a hurry to re-open the Surulere National Stadium until we restore the master plan. "I Was in Daura and watched more than 45 youth clubs playing on bad pitch, so we resurfaced the Daura Township Stadium with a new technology playing turf and we are happy that more than 45 clubs now have good pitch to play. “All these were made possible through a robust public, private partnership approved by Mr. President,” he said. The Minister will receive the award alongside other prominent Nigerians who have distinguished themselves in public service as well as the private sector." With him at the award venue in Lagos was the newly appointed Chief of Staff, Alhaji Abba Yola.