Newly sworn in Sports Minister Hon. John Enoh has assured Athletes and officials at the World Athletics Championship in Budapest of a grand reception when they arrive Nigeria next week.

In an interview monitored on TVC sports programme in Lagos on Wednesday, Enoh charged the Athletes to do their best as he promised to encourage them to win more laurels.

“The country is with them in Budapest, win medals or not,  Sports ministry would host a reception for them. They should do their best and come home for a reception.” he said.

The Minister who would be in Lagos shortly to inspect Sports Facilities, having toured the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja, insisted that maintenance of Sports infrastructure is key to sports development.

He said there’s a clear mandate on what to do in the sports sector especially in the area of fund appropriation for maintenance and building critical sports infrastructure.

“Maintaining sports infrastructure remains a challenge,” he said.

“I toured the Abuja stadium and observed that maintenance of some facilities should be hurried up to avoid further decay.”

Honorable Enoh however applauded the  former sports minister Sunday Dare for the Adopt a talent initiative and bringing the private sector to do business in Sports.

“Sports business are initiatives we would pursue.  We have to pursue a number of initiatives in  Grassroots Sports, National youth Games, we would sustain sports at the grassroots level,” he insisted.

“Our school children must be encouraged to do sports. We have to sustain current initiatives already made in elite sports.

“The president is going to provide funds for sports development in this country, though, government won’t do it alone. We are going to come up with initiatives that would encourage the private sector to come into sports development.

“Passion, leadership and transparency are key to sports development.  If I’m transparent and straight forward, and I’m not involved in any corrupt practices, there would be more development, and I think others will trust me and follow.