No doubt, sports have become one of the key factors to keep youths busy. But it goes way beyond that. It is now a major foreign exchange earner, providing multiple income streams to, not only the sportsmen and women but also to managers, traders, operators of viewing centers, and so on
The big question is why we have not been able to domesticate this great industry in Africa. Most big clubs in Europe are dependent on African players for their huge successes. What then are we doing wrong?
Our people pay huge sums in taxes to European countries, they buy property in Europe and largely develop European markets. Governments in Africa as usual are unserious about creating a thriving income-generating system out of this. Our sporting system is almost non-existent. Monies voted for revamping sports in Africa are embezzled and misappropriated by officials.
What we are doing at PMDAfrica will change this story for good. We identify the importance of sports as a veritable tool for youth development, creating economic integration and galvanizing unity in a politically shredded Africa. This is why we are giving massive attention to revamping sporting activities.
In line with our mandate to create wealth that would be retained domestically, we are in talks with investors to join us in setting up academies through which we will harvest talents that would be nurtured to greatness in the soon-to-be-revived African sports.
We have also created incentives that would lure our great sportsmen in the diaspora back home to increase the fortunes of our people. Revitalizing the sports sector is central to the growth of the African economy. It would produce millions of direct and indirect jobs and redirect attention to African sports.
Together, we can. Let us join hands to make Africa the sporting hub of the world.
