The National Sports Authority (NSA) convened a crucial meeting today at City Hall View Conference Room, gathering eighty stakeholders from sixty-one organizations to finalize plans for the National Sports Development Fund. This initiative aims to boost sports development across Sierra Leone.
Key discussions focused on the draft statutory instrument detailing the Fund’s governance, revenue sources, eligibility criteria, and roles of participating entities. Since President Bio’s launch of the National Sports Basket Fund in December 2021 with a ten-billion-Leone donation, efforts have been ongoing to expand its impact.
Dr. Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai, Executive Director of NSA, highlighted the need for collaborative efforts to shape the Fund’s framework, emphasizing the importance of aligning with established benchmarks for government support within the next six months.
Hon. Hindolo Mohamed Ngevao, Chairman of the Parliamentary Sports Oversight Committee, praised the NSA’s fiscal prudence under Dr. Abdulai’s leadership and reaffirmed parliament’s role in ensuring transparent governance. Former Minister of Sport and newly appointed NSA Board Chairman, Ibrahim Nyelenkeh, stressed the transformative potential of the Sports Fund.
Madam Augusta James-Teima, Minister of Sports, committed her ministry to collaborating with the NSA to advance national sports objectives, aiming to elevate sports governance and infrastructure.
In the second phase of the meeting, stakeholders participated in focused group discussions led by NSA Project Coordinator Michael S. Mustapha, refining strategies for fund utilization and program implementation. The gathering concluded with a consensus on the National Sports Development Fund’s crucial role in fostering sustainable sports growth and enhancing national pride.
