* No kobo received 3 weeks to tournament
Treasure Ochemeje Lokoja.
The local Organising Committee LOC of the Research Institutes Games Association of Nigeria RIGAN has expressed fears that the 2024 games may not hold as funds meant for the hosting is yet to be released less than three weeks to the start of the tournament.
The LOC which was constituted in August, 2023 to ensure the hitch free tournament is already running into financial troubles as the parent ministry of Agriculture is yet to cash back the budget for hosting of the tournament.
Recall, that the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria CRIN Ibadan got the hosting rights of the 18th session scheduled to hold on 6-11, December, 2024 .
In a statement made available to Journalists on Monday, the President of RIGAN, prof.O.F. Olowade, decried the situation in which funds meant for the tournament is yet to be released few weeks to the commencement of the games.
He, however, expressed reservation about the possibility of a successful hosting of the event as the much needed funds for the upgrade of facilities and other logistical needs are yet to be released less than a month to the tournament
According to him ” We don’t know what is happening. The games is less than one month away, and by now, one expects certain things to have been put in place. What we hear is that there is no cash backing for it yet. We may go into late or 11th hour preparations, and that is what is killing the sports industry in Nigeria.”
The RIGAN President, lamented that the non release of fund may endanger the games , stressing that despite sending the estimates early enough and visits to the National Assembly, it seemed the budget is yet to be captured.
“We have since written to the Presidency and our parent Ministry of Agriculture to update them about the dire situation and request for their urgent interventions. So far, no money has been released, forcing all of us into confusion.
“We have also been reaching out to our strategic partners like state governments, politicians, corporate organizations, and the business community. We are also engaging the research institutes to contribute to the sponsorship. Thus far, we are a far cry from our expected target or response. In fact, with the way things are, I can not say what the future of the games will be.” The RIGAN President said with a tone of surrender.
He expatiated that aside from being a veritable ground for cross fertilisation of scholarly ideas, showcase of research products and new inventions, the games provide room for bonding and tourism among the participants.
“For many of our junior staff who take part in it, the game may be the only opportunity to travel and explore other places.” He added.
It was gathered that organisers of the games are yet to procure vital sporting items, notably boots, track suits, and safety gears, among others. In addition, some existing facilities for the games are crying for urgent rehabilitation.
RIGAN came into existence in 1979 as a brainchild of Committee of Directors of Research Institutes (CODRI). The Association comprises of forty five (45) Research and Development Institutes and has among others the objective to bring together the various Research and Development Institutes through sporting activities in all its ramifications.
Some Nigerians who have been discovered at past RIGAN games festival includes Mutiu Adepoju from CRIN, Ibadan and M. Monye who is still a serving officer at NAPRI, Zaria. He featured in Olympic Games, Barcelona 1992
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