AN INVESTIGATION INTO FACTORS MILITATING AGAINST SPORTS DEVELOPMENT IN LAGOS STATE.

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CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background to the Study

Lagos state are sports loving people who even in early times devoted themselves to such sports as wrestling, archery, hunting, racing, swimming, boat regattas, acrobatic displays etc. There  is no doubt that in Lagos state today, in the area of sports, is development conscious, while  sports in Lagos state is developing  at a faster rate than  that of the economy of  the state.   Today there is a new dimension to sports in Lagos state with emphasis not only on the physical and mental development but also financial encouragement from government for individual sportsmen and women.

According to Adebayo, (2003)  Sports is a  broad term, covering activities  ranging  from  teasing  cats  to  highly  organized  team athletics. Indeed sport means  different  things  to different  people. Luchem, (2003) defines  sports  as an institutionalized  type  of  competitive  physical  activity  located  on a continuum between  play and work. He  believes  that   sports  have intrinsic and extrinsic rewards  but  the more  it is rewarded, the more  it  tends  to be work; the less, the more  it tends to play.

Sport development deals with the opportunities available for people to progress to their potential in sport, from taking part for fun and health to competition and also encompasses the provision of opportunities for addressing the social issues of the day through participation in sport. Sport for sport’s sake deals with activity management, support services and quality of education through coaching with sport for “social good” dealing with a variety of issues from social integration, health, community regeneration, crime and social inclusion.

According to Sage, (2002)  sports  is a social  phenomenon  which extends  into  education, politics, economies, arts, the mass media, and even international diplomatic  relations. Participation in modern sports, which was formerly limited to units of Armed Forces and teachers’ colleges, widened by 1933 with the introduction of the Cier cup and the ‘Hussey Shield’ competition for secondary schools. Other trophies introduced to be competed for were the ‘Morocco’ cup for Cricket and the Adebayo Manuwa’ cup for football by 1944, the Amateur Athletics Association of Nigeria (AAAN), with head office in Lagos. The association came into existence, basically to co-ordinate athletics organization in the state. Before colonial incursion dancing, acrobatic displays and wrestling featured prominently as part of ceremonies in Lagos societies (Ikulayo, 1994). Sport is a very important aspect of Nigeria socio-cultural life. It impacts on many of the individual’s precious personal mementoes and deepest values, male or female. An analysis of those actively involved in sports in Nigeria indicates that men constitute the greater number either as players, coaches, or as administrators.  A sport is commonly defined as an organized, competitive, and skillful physical activity requiring commitment and fair play. It is governed by a set of rules or customs. In a sport the key factors are the physical capabilities and skills of the competitor when determining the outcome (winning or losing). The physical activity involves the movement of people, animals and/or a variety of objects such as balls and machines. In contrast, games such as card games and board games, though these could be called mind sports, require only mental skills. Non-competitive activities such as jogging and rock-climbing are usually classified as recreations.

Modern competitive sports were introduced to Lagos state mainly by British Christian Missionaries. Sports were organised on recreational basis in the schools, but were later held competitively as part of the British Empire Day celebrations. Nigeria has a national sports development policy (Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1989a), which identifies five specific programme areas: sports development; voluntary organisation; research and planing; education and training; and mobilisation of resources for sports. In addition, the government also publishes guidelines for implementing the sports Development Policy (Federal Republic of Nigeria 1989b).

However, it can be argued that given the many years of military rule in Nigeria, and in view of the fact that victory is associated with success, the government’s strong commitment towards sports development was a political manoeuvre aimed at diverting attention and popularising military rule. The National Sports Commission has been strongly criticised on a number of occasions for fielding athletes at international competitions, not strictly based on merit or skill, but rather on geographical spread. In recommending players for inclusion in national teams, national sport federations are often compelled to field players from previously disadvantaged parts of the state. This phenomenon is commonly referred to as ‘federal character’. Although, this practice might have hindered the performances of athletes in certain sports and denied them the opportunity to represent the state locally. It has nevertheless enhanced capacity building and raised the overall development of sports in the state.

1.2       Statement of Problem

Sports management serves as the bedrock of sports development of any state. There is the need to manage the vast sports’ resources, which include financial, material and human resources that exist in the field of sports. The ultimate aim is to achieve set objectives. In spite of the resource potentialities existing in the state toward sports development, Lagos state has not made any appreciable impact at local sports. This is due to the fact that Sports development in Lagos state has witnessed a lot of metamorphosis from the colonial pre-independence and post independence eras. However, those at the helm of affairs in the sports ministry had been non-professionals and this had negatively affected the fortunes of sports development in Lagos State.

This study therefore intends to investigate those factors militating against sports development in Lagos State.

1.3       Purpose of Study

The purpose of this study is outlined below:

1. To determine whether provisions of funds would enhance effective development of sports in the state.
2. To determine whether maintenance of sports facilities would affect effective development of sports in the state.
3. To investigate whether promoting sports at the grassroots level will aid sports development in the state.
4. To know whether incentives to sports participant would have significant influence on the level of sports development in the state.
5. To examine whether there is significant difference between male and female athletes towards sports development in the state.
6. To proffer possible solution to the factors militating against sports development in Lagos State.

1.4       Research Questions

The following research questions will be raised for the study:

1. Would adequate provisions of funds enhance effective development of sports in the state?
2. Would maintenance of sports facilities enhance effective development of sports in the state?
3. Would promotion of sports at the grassroots level aid sports development in the state?
4. Would introduction of incentives to sports participant have significant influence on the level of sports development in the state?
5. Would there be significant difference between male and female athlete towards sports development in the state?

1.5       Research Hypotheses

The following null hypotheses are stated below:

1. Adequate provisions of funds would have no significant influence on the effective development of sports in the state.
2. Adequate maintenance of sports facilities have no significant influence on the effective development of sports in the state.
3. There would be no significant effect of promoting sports at the grassroots level on sports development in the state.
4. Incentives to sports participant have no significant influence on the level of sports development in the state.
5. There would be no significant difference between male and female athlete towards sports development in the state.

1.6       Significance of the Study

According to Bucher, (1999) sport programme should receive a major emphasis and that should include the interests and the need of male and female sports participant.

This study is important because it will serve as a guide to the Ministry of sports and social development to promote  sports  at  the  basic level.

The study will help government agency to  know  how  to develop and promote sports at the grassroots levels.

The study will help sports administrators in identifying those factors affecting  sports development in the state.

The school administrators are not left behind as they too will encourage sports development through sporting events programmes in their various schools. Also, subjects like physical education will be made mandatory to all secondary school students.

The school planner, principals, teachers, parents, government and the society at large should join hands to promote sports as this will enable them to have the idea of how schools can be planned easily towards achieving sports development goals in the state.

1.7       Delimitations of the Study

The study is delimited to cover the National Institute for sports, National stadium, Surulere-Lagos.

1.8       Limitation of the Study

One of the major problems encountered during this research is getting relevant research material to be used for this study. The problem of time and financial constraints also came up during the time of this study.

1.9       Definition of Key Terms

The following words have been defined as they will be used in the study:

• Sport: This is a competitive event that brings honour to the winner and depression to the looser.
• Sport Development: This is an initiative aimed at promoting the development of sport and recreational activities with specific emphasis on rural areas and links between schools, clubs and young people.
• Sport Management: The process undertaken by one or more individuals to plan, organize, and coordinate the activities of human and materials to achieve a predetermined goals.
• Equipment: This refers to tools use in various types of sports such as Golf ball, football, tennis rackets, baseball bats, hockey sticks.
• National Sports Festival: Since 1973, the state has always organized a National sport Festival every two years, the aim of which is to discover potential talents in all spheres of sports.
• Coach: This is  an individual who trains athletes for contest in the event of winning a laurel or honour for self, team, state, state.
• Sport administrator: this is an individual who formulates policies concerning sports management.
• Sport facilities: This is an immovable, stationary and expense material that is used for sport, e.g football pitch, basketball court, hockey pitch, hand ball court, pavilions, gymnasium, indoor sports facilities.

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