Seven Achievements Of John Owan Enoh As Former Nigeria’s Sports Minister

It is no longer news that John Owan Enoh has been moved from the Sports Ministry to the Ministry Of Trade, Investment and Industry thanks to President Ahmed Tinubu’s cabinet reshuffle which was announced on Wednesday, October 23.

John Owan Enoh is now the Minister of State for Trade and Investment and Shehu Dikko, the current chairman of the League Management Company responsible for the management of the Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL), is in charge of the sports ministry.

Note that President Tinubu has transferred the functions of the Ministry Of Sports Development to the National Sports Commission (NSC). Hence, Dikko won’t be addressed as a minister but as the Director-General of the NSC.

With that said, below is the achievement of John Owan Enoh since he was appointed Nigeria’s Minister of Sports Development in August 2023:

1. All African Games Success: Under his guidance, Nigeria achieved a remarkable 2nd place finish, earning 121 medals among 52 participating countries.

2. Funding for AFCON 2024: Enoh played a crucial role in resolving a financial crisis that could have jeopardized Nigeria’s participation in the tournament, leading to an impressive rise in FIFA rankings from 42nd to 28th globally. Recall that the Super Eagles finished second in the tournament which was the country’s best performance since winning the trophy in 2013.

3. Six-Point Agenda: He introduced the WAIFAR roadmap, emphasizing athlete welfare, sports business activation, and infrastructure development. These initiatives are aimed at revitalizing Nigerian sports and improving the support systems for athletes.

4. Financial Transparency: By ensuring the timely disbursement of allowances and bonuses, he has fostered trust and accountability within the sports community.

5. Health and Safety: Enoh has prioritized the health of athletes, responding swiftly to medical emergencies and initiating an insurance scheme for their benefit.

6. Welfare System: As part of his six-point agenda, he has focused on establishing a comprehensive welfare system for both active and retired athletes, coupled with an annual recognition platform to celebrate their achievements.

7. Debt Clearance: Enoh facilitated the clearance of over ₦12 billion in debts owed to sports federations, which has greatly improved the financial stability of the athletes.