Sport

Gov. Oyetola is committed to Sports Development – Aide

By Web News 571

Approves Re-grassing of Osogbo Tpownship Stadium

Osun State Governor, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola has approved the re-grassing of Osogbo township stadium.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth and Sports, Aremo Gboyega Adelabu gave the information in Osogbo during the monthly Stakeholders’ Forum of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Osun State Chapter.

Aremo Adelabu who assured that the contractor would soon begin to work the project added that arrangements had been concluded to purchase good, modern equipment needed in other sports.

He noted that the state currently scored low in sports, but assured that steps were being taken to improve on sports facilities and equipment and make the state teams generate funds for themselves.

Speaking on the major challenges of the sports sector and efforts to overcome them, Aremo Adelabu said “funding has been the major challenge. The running of football clubs requires a lot of money which made us think out of the box. Part of what we have done was to offer replica jerseys of Osun United and Osun Babes for sales to political office holders to jack up the revenue. There are plans to sell mugs, key holders and other merchandise that will bring income to the teams too. We are confident that with these, we can increase the financial base of the clubs.”

When asked about athletes discovered during last year’s sports festival and general welfare of players, he said, “most of those picked (during 2021 Osun Sports Festival) are with Osun United while others are among the contract coaches and athletes at the Osun State Sports Council.

Earlier in his opening remark, Osun State Chairman of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN, Mr Timothy Agbor appreciated the gesture of Aremo Adelabu and reiterated that the association would not relent in its efforts at promoting government activities aimed at developing all categories of sports in the state.

There was also a remark by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Sports Development, Vincent Akinbami who affirmed Governor Oyetola’s love for sports and several efforts to improve the performance of Osun United and Osun Babes.

Adenitan Akinola

Sport

2021 Osun Sports Festival: Gov. Oyetola Pledges To Achieve Speedy Transformation

By Web News 597

The Governor of Osun State, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola says his Administration’s commitment to sports development is aimed at continuously preaching and spreading the messages of love, unity, hope, and development in the State.

Governor Oyetola stated this while declaring the year 2021 Osun Sports Festival closed after its finals competition at Osogbo City Stadium.

He said the initiative was geared towards engendering peaceful coexistence,

sustaining Osun’s status as the most peaceful State in the country and achieving the goal of speedy transformation of the socio-economic development of the State.

The Governor reaffirmed his Administration’s commitment to ensuring adequate implementation of the State’s Youth Policy Statement designed to promote Youth Education, Youth Empowerment, Youth Entrepreneurship, and Youth Engagement.

Addressing the participants, Mr. Oyetola said his administration had recorded huge success in its resolve to diversify the economy to non-oil sectors in which the sports had received adequate attention from the government.

The Osun helmsman hinted that to achieve the objective, the festival had been put together to discover hidden talents in various sports across the Local Government Areas, harness and groom them to stardom. 

Earlier, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr. Yemi Lawal had lauded the avowed commitment of Governor Oyetola to youth development in the State.

Mr. Lawal who described youths as the most energetic and productive segment of the population praised the Administration for investing tremendously in the sector.

He listed some of the interventions of the Administration to turn around the sector to include the appointment of 42 Local Government Sports Coordinators, including the Zonal and State Coordinators for robust coordination of sports at the grassroots; approval and funding of state participation at various sports competitions, including the just-concluded 20th National Sports Festival, held in Edo State, “EDO 2020”, despite all the postponements; approval of the compositions and appointments into various Sports Associations in the state; financing the two-state teams of Osun United and Osun Babes Football Clubs in their different league; and fencing, renovation of Osogbo City stadium.

At the finals of the football competition, Ejigbo Local Government Area Football Club won the tournament and secured the trophy by 4-1 against Ife-East Local Government Area Football Club.

Other winners in the other sporting activities were also honored and rewarded.

Adenitan Akinola