Nigeria's Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare last week was the recipient of the prestigious Special Recognition Awards for contribution to sports development in Nigeria and the African Region in Maldives.

The awards which formed highlights of the Maldives Sports Awards 2023 was presented to the Minister by the Maldivian President, Ibrahim Mohammed Solih.

Dare has superintended over far-reaching reforms in the sports sector since he assumed office as Minister in August, 2019. The most significant being the new National Sports Industry Policy approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in November, 2022.

The Minister is also credited with devising innovative means to addressing dilapidated sporting infrastructure through Adopt-a-Pitch initiative - a Public Private Sector initiative that has seen the Moshood Abiola Stadium Abuja, National Stadium Surulere amongst others spring back to life.

In a like manner, the "adopt-an-athlete initiative has provided credit of between $10,000 to $20,000 to at least 44 athletes, prominent recipients are Tobi Amusan and Ese Brume, who have done the country proud on the World stage. Amusan won gold in 100m hurdles at the World Athletics Championship last year and went on to emerge best female athlete on the African continent.

The 10-year Football masterplan was also conceptualised amongst other reforms that has won the Minister garlands at home and abroad.