Dalung, Idowu differ on why private sector dumped Sports in Nigeria

Former national cricket player and sports marketing consultant, Oladipo Idowu, has identified the current economic recession as part of the problems affecting private sector involvement in sports.
According to him, the dwindling fortune of the Nigerian economy is eating deep into the financial strength of corporate organisations and wealthy Nigerians and as such, could no longer perform their social responsibilities again.
“These days there are problems everywhere. Workers no longer get their salaries when due. Some lost their jobs as companies struggle to stay afloat. The government is also not helping the private sector to stand. There is confusion in the land,” he said. If economic factors are important in influencing the level of sport participation, then it is likely to be most evident in sports that require huge capital expenditure in order to participate. Cricket, golf and sailing are expensive events to manage and organise.
But the Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, has blamed lack of accountability and transparency as reasons why the private sector shunned sports development in Nigeria.
Dalung said he was dismayed at the nonparticipation of multinational corporations in their social responsibilities to support sports growth in the country.
He said that it was the role of private sector establishments as well as wealthy individuals in the society to see to the development of sports.
“Sports generally is driven by the private sector the world over. In the past, we had the support of the private sector. But, of late, their participation reduced considerably.
“I want to assure them that we will do much to introduce accountability in the management of sports by inviting them to come. Let them come and drive sports,” he said.