BENJAMIN OMOIKE
Nigeria and Spain have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), to strengthen the bilateral relations between both countries in sports development and other key areas.
This development is one of the benefits of the visit by President Muhammadu Buhari to his Spanish counterpart, President Pedro Sanchez.
According to the report by the Nigeria Sports Ministry, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare on behalf of the Federal Government, signed the MoU alongside his Spanish counterpart Miquel Octavi Iceta I Llorens on Wednesday in Madrid.
The Ministry noted that “the agreement aims to initiate and build collaboration in the area of Sports as well as strengthen the bilateralexchange between both countries based on reciprocity according to their competencies and mutual benefits in the field of sports.”
“Some of the specific areas of cooperation include the following among others; Building, development and management of sports relations and institutions, exchange of knowledge in the areas of sports science, technology, medicine and the fight against doping.
“Sports sponsorship, patronage and organizing of sports events, initiating programmes to support and promote sports for special athletes, protection of young athletes and sportswomen.
“Provision of sports facilities and training centres, organisation of friendly and major International competitions among the national teams and clubs of both countries in different sports and the arrangement of joint training sessions were also listed among the areas of cooperation.
“The application and execution of the terms of the agreement are expected to begin immediately and will be automatically renewed on an annual basis,” the Ministry stated.
Other areas of the agreement that help to strengthen the bilateral relations between the African and European countries are economy and trade, health, tourism, science and technology.
