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Sports News of Tuesday, 13 December 2022

Source: guardian.ng

Governor Abiodun joins calls for grassroots sports development

Governor Dapo Abiodun Governor Dapo Abiodun

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has joined the calls for sports development at the grassroots level in the country.

The governor said the current challenges the country is facing sustaining its competitive sport reputation as a regional, continental and a global champion can only be addressed in the long term when the country returns to grassroots sports.

Speaking at third Ogun State Public Primary Schools Governor’s Cup held at the M.K.O International Stadium, Abeokuta, Abiodun said sports provides a platform for the development of everyone and a wholesome education plan.

He added: “The hosting of this Governor’s Cup has afforded all participants opportunity to widen the horizon for knowledge and sports activities.

“Apart from development of youths’ skills, grassroots sports is essential to provide an array of sports men and women for competitive events at all levels.

“The current challenge we have in sustaining our national competitive sport reputation as a regional, continental and global levels will be addressed in the long term when we return to grassroots sports.

“It is instructive to note that most of the former and current thriving sport men and women such as Segun Odegbami, Felix Owolabi, Akeem ‘The Dream’ Olajuwon, Falilat Ogunkoya and so many others, were those that were made at this level, including our latest current world record holder, Tobi Amusan, they were all discovered through local competitive sporting events such as this.”

Abiodun while calling on well meaning investors and individuals to come and partner with the state government in the development of sports, said that it is important for the country to begin to nurture the younger and agile generation so as to be able to compete internationally.

“I therefore call on well meaning investors and individuals to come and partner with us, you will find us willing and ready partners,

“We cannot afford to continue to rely on ageing sports men and women, we must begin to nuture our young agile ones to compete internationally.

“Let me assure our stakeholders in the sporting industry that our administration will continue to support sports, not just football as an avenue to harness the raw energy of our youths,” he stated.

The governor acknowledged Team Ogun’s efforts at the just-concluded Delta 2022 National Sports Festival, where it won 70 medals, comprising 15 gold, 18 silver and 37 bronze. He promised that the state, apart from aiming to host the best sports festival ever, would also ensure that it comes first.

In his address, chairman of the state’s Universal Basic Education, Chief Femi Majekodunmi, while appreciating the governor for his support, which ensured the success of the competition, said that the board would continue to play its role of nurturing talents from the primary school level.

The state chairman of the National Association of Primary Schools Games and Sport Teachers (NAPSGAST), Opedimeji Ola, while noting that sports in general and football in particular is a unifying factor and the panacea to the socio-security challenges that have bedeviled the country in recent times, said that the just concluded Ogun State Sports Festival for all public primary schools and the third Ogun State Governor’s Cup for primary schools have shown that talents abound in the country.