- SEN ENOH, NEW MINISTER OF SPORTS DEV, SETTLES DOWN FOR BRASS TASKS
By Celestine Ogugua, Abuja – Nigeria
Senator John Owan Enoh was sworn -in -as the new Minister of Sports Development on 21st August, 2023 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the State House, Abuja alongside 44 others.
In fact,, Senator John Enoh needs no introduction in the contemporary Nigeria, having been very visible in the past one decade and more. A detribalized Nigerian from Cross River State, South – South Nigeria.
He was born in 1966 in the Agbokim waterfalls Community of Cross River state. The new Hon. Minister of Sports Development is a rare gem; a quintessential leader, he holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology from the University of Calabar, Nigeria .He graduated as the best graduating student in his class in 1988 with second Class Honors, Upper Division. He also obtained a Master’s Degree in Demography from the same University and then a Post – Graduate Diploma in Management.
He had a stint in the academia with his Alma- Mater where he lectured for Seven years from 1991 to 1997.
As providence would have it, the brand new Minister of Sports Development decided after putting in seven years in the citadel of learning to venture into the murky waters of politics in 1997 during late General Sani Abacha’s regime and he successfully contested for the Etung State Constituency seat in Cross River state House of Assembly, where he served as Minority Leader.
Subsequently, he became the Chairman of the Committee on Information before contesting for the Federal House of Representatives and won as an Honourable member representing the Obubra / Etung Federal Constituency in the National Assembly from 2003-2015, superintending over different committees.
Senator Enoh is a man of capacity, visionary, purposeful and highly proactive,.Having progressed meteorically in his political career, from one level to another higher level, by dint of hard work and as fate would have it, he aspired to be in the Senate and by the grace of God his dream came through and he was elected to the Senate in 2015 where he served as Chairman Finance Committee , a position he distinguished himself professionally and meritoriously.
Furthermore, he was the flag bearer for the Governorship election of the All Progressive Congress in Cross River State in 2019. Aside his long and prosperous history in Politics, Senator Enoh is a man who has innate tendency to explore and venture into so many areas of life, hence his level of versatility.
Little wonder he owns several farms where he engages in arable and livestock production. He is a leader of substance and a man of many parts, he is consistently selfless.
It is also heart warming to note that the Hon. Minister of Sports Development is a man of the people and a philanthropist extraordinare.He is very passionate and committed to impacting positively on the lives of the ordinary people in the society. Thus,he owns the JOE (John Owan Enoh) Foundation which focuses on helping those living with diabetes in Nigeria.
So far, Senator Enoh has proven he is tested thereby disappointing the doubting thomases who thought he does not know his onions as far as sports administration is concerned.
On assumption of duty, he has been able to demonstrate that he is a pragmatic leader, rather than assuming duty at the Federal Secretariat Complex , Abuja where the office of the Minister of Sports Development is domiciled , he opted to be at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja to enable him feel the pulse of the reality on ground, this is unprecedented .
Just few weeks of assumption of duty as the Hon Minister of Sports Development, he had been involved in strategic engagement with relevant stakeholders as well as embarking on inspection tours of facilities at various stadia, making him a man of action.
Some of the activities of the Hon. Minister include but not limited to the reception he accorded Team Nigeria from Budapest, Hungary at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja where he said that Nigeria Athletes that participated at the competition deserved our commendation for their patriotism .
Within this short space of time , the Hon Minister took time to inspect the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja where he described the stadium as a ‘definitive National monument,’ while assuring that the government would ensure the resucitation and turn around of the facilities at the stadium.
In the same vein ,he recently inspected the National Stadium, Surulere where he identifies Public- Private Partnership as key to sports development.
He equally played host to one of the major stakeholders in the Sports sector ,the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN who paid him a courtesy visit at his office in Abuja ,all with a view to moving the sector forward.
With these strategic engagements so far and the familiarization tour of some of the national stadia in the country, it is obvious even to the blind that Senator Enoh is a man with the midas touch who has what it takes to propel the engine of sports development in Nigeria to an enviable height.
He has aggressively engaged the relevant stakeholders and sort their collaboration having realized that sports cannot thrive without relationship and strategic engagement with major players in the sector.
Building on this, the vibrant Minister of Sports Development also met with the leadership of the National Football Federation, NFF recently in his office in Abuja to chart a new course for Sports development in the country, especially with a view to finding resolutions to the issues surrounding the contract with the Super Eagles Coach.
He reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to the development of sports in the country.
During that important meeting with NFF officials ,Sen.Enoh averred that President Bola TInubu ‘s passion for development of the sector made the meeting imperative, especially considering the fact that Nigerian Super Eagles are set to meet Sao- Tome and Principe in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state capital, this weekend.
It is my conviction that the administration of Senator John Owan Enoh will witness a rejuvenation of the sports sector in Nigeria, considering his calm disposition, doggedness, rich pedigree and foresightness
His actions so far has proven that he is tested and determined to restore dignity and glory to the Sports Ministry and the sector as a whole.
Indeed, Senator Enoh is an epitome of an ideal family man, a very responsible father and husband, married with only one wife, Mrs Rachel Enoh and the union is blessed with lovely Children.
