By Biodun Owoborode
Not every superhero wears a cape but this one is certainly bespectacled and loves really nice suits. He may not have x-ray vision but his vision is laser-focused on the goal of Youth excellence.
He may not be able to scale a tall building in a single bound but he will catch a flight to the ends of the earth if it would advance the cause of sports in Nigeria. He may lack the energy to outrun a speeding bullet but he would willingly take a bullet for Nigeria. This is all true of the man who is 55 years young today but still packs the enthusiasm and strength of an adolescent. Step forward, Mr. Sunday Dare, the Minister for Youth and Sports Development.
So, how do you write about a man, whose journey began in the Tin City of Jos, which has been home to so many illustrious Ogbomoso people for generations? How do you trace the history of a man who chose the most dangerous job in his country under the Military Junta and spent his days investigating and publishing human rights violation stories and his nights dodging assassin bullets?
How do you aptly describe the sojourn of a man that has Oduduwa’s blood running in his veins but speaks Hausa like a Kano native? How do you categorise a career that has journalist in the beginning, Voice of America Editor-in-Chief in the middle and is currently experiencing the position of Federal Minister?
As a child, I did watch and admire Sunday Dare do daring things. As a boy in Jos, I often read his stories in the papers with a sense of pride and looked forward to seeing him each time he visited. Then, he had to leave the country in a rush and we lost touch. While I followed my passion and became an architect, he pursued his and became a celebrated journalist.
His return to the country after democracy was restored meant he had options and he took one of them. He chose to serve as Media Adviser to the former Governor of Lagos State and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
He used this opportunity to learn the skills of politics and who else was better than the Jagaban of Borgu? For years, he absorbed from the leader and grew his contact base. He played his part in the amalgamation of the several parties that came together to form the juggernaut party that could stand and beat the ruling party in 2015.
He played the role of peacemaker, massaging huge egos until the marriage was consummated. Having accomplished the almost impossible, it was time to move on up. And that he did with his usual aplomb.
In 2016, he was appointed as the Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, at the Nigerian Communications Commission. Here, he brought renewed energy and vigour to the job. Journalism had expanded his world view and he was quick to see the linkages between having a sound digital economy, progressive ideas, productive jobs and enhanced national security. Many of the projects he kicked-off and anchored are today the cornerstone of the fight against insecurity and insurgency. However, before he could see these projects through, he got a higher call.
President Muhammadu Buhari, who has known and worked directly with Mr. Dare for years, saw in him the man to champion his Youth agenda. He appointed him as Federal Minister of Youth and Sports Development and gave him his marching orders. “Sunday, keep the Youth busy!”. Those orders were as clear as any General could be. Mr. Dare knew what was expected.
From his first day in office, it was clear to all that this Minister was different. While others had found succour hiding behind success in sports, mainly football, he declared that the age of Youth development had come. He was determined to invest as much energy and resources in getting the Nigerian Youth ready for employment in today’s global economy, as he was in making sports more viable.
“We are going to ensure that sports and youth development are placed on even keel”. Those were his words and he immediately went about making it happen.”
Within weeks of his appointment, he and his team of agile aides had come up with a plan he coined “the New DEEL for the Nigerian Youth”. DEEL stands for Digital literacy, Employability, Entrepreneurship and Leadership.
•Arc Biodun Owoborode is the Special Assistant on Projects to the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare.
