The National Lottery Trust Fund (NLTF), at the weekend signed a N663m sports equipment agreement with Chinese and Turkish firms. The deal will see the firms supply branded sports equipment in nine sports to public primary schools in the country.
The equipment will be distributed to about 1,000 primary schools nation-wide , with at least nine primary schools benefiting in each senatorial district across the six geo-political zones.
While the Contract Agreement with Messrs China Sports International. Co. Ltd of China is for the sum of $2,788,386.76 that of Messrs CAAN Sports Organisations Ltd of Turkey is for the sum of $914,967.10.
The nine sports the branded equipment will cover are: Athletics, Volley Ball, Football, Handball, Badminton, Table Tennis, Basketball, Judo and Taekwondo.
The NLTF has already concluded a comprehensive survey and identified the prospective primary schools to benefit from the distribution of the equipment in the country in line with President Goodluck Jonathan’s directives for the program.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Executive Secretary, NLTF, Engr. Abu Gumel, disclosed that the choice of the two foreign companies have been endorsed by the Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP), having met the due process requirements under the Public Procurement Act 2007, expressing confidence in their ability to carry out the projects with professionalism, competence and integrity.
While expressing the believe that the signed agreements would be a significant boost to the nation’s lottery industry and business, Gumel said, “ This intervention program seeks to promote grassroots sports development in the country.”
The Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki, in his remarks, urged the firms to live up to their pedigree and do a good job.
The Chairman, Governing Board of National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), Damian Dodo, noted that lottery has impacted positively on the socio-economic development of many countries and that the story can not be different in Nigeria.
Speaking for China Sports International Co. Ltd, China, Lyu Guoguang, expressed happiness to be given the opportunity to supply sports equipment to Nigerian schools
“We are very happy to be part of this and we assure on meeting our agreement. We will do our best to supply good quality products,” he said.
The representative of CAAN Sports Organization Ltd, Turkey, Mr Nejat Sancak, on his part noted that this was a new field Nigeria and Turkey was cooperating in.
“We hope this cooperation will grow a new generation of athletes for Nigeria. We hope this will boost Nigeria’s sports development,” he said.