Sport

Ogun Tertiary Institutions Games Begins

By Web News 1180

All is set for the commencement of the fourth edition of the revived Gateway Tertiary Institution Games, GATIG, in Ogun State after 12 years.

The Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Dr. Oluwadare Kehinde made this known while speaking with journalists at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Kuto, Abeokuta.

The Gateway Tertiary Institution Games, GATIG, is an avenue for students from various tertiary institutions in Ogun State to renew their friendships and rivalry in different sporting activities.

It is also designed to encourage the direction of youthful exuberance towards sports rather than engaging in cultism, prostitution, drug abuse and other social vices.

The game which is scheduled to begin on Wednesday at the Alake Sports Centre will see students competing for honours in seventeen games across three different venues in the state capital.

Addressing journalists, the Ogun State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Dr. Oluwadare Kehinde said the event would be used to discover raw talents among the students of tertiary institutions in Ogun State and assist them in honing their skills for national and global prominence. 

Dr. Kehinde restated the present administration’s determination to return the state to its glorious sports heritage.

The chairman, Main Organizing Committee, MOC, Prince Adetunji Onatolu said the rejuvenated GATIG would assist the state in its efforts towards the discovery of talents that would represent the state at the next National Sports Festival.

Also, the Director of Sports, Ogun State, Mrs. Iyabode Rotimi said the opening ceremony of the four-day event would be held at Alake Sports Centre, Ijeja, Abeokuta with volleyball while the OOPL and the MKO stadium are other venues for the competition.

Speaking on behalf of the participating tertiary institutions, the Director of Sports, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Mr. Adeyemi Kehinde who was represented by the Principal Sports Coach of the institution, Mr. Dauda Saheed commended the efforts of the state government to revive the games, assuring the organizers of good conduct of the athletes through the period of the games.

Segun Folarin

Sport

Ogun Govt. Begins “Mind Games” At Grassroots

By Web News 985

Ogun State government has attributed the performance of the state’s athletes at the just concluded Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics to the giant strides of the present administration in developing sports.

The Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Dr. Oluwadare Kehinde stated this in Abeokuta while speaking with sports writers on the plan of the state to stage the maiden edition of “Mind Games”.

Dr. Kehinde who explained that the games would be held across the twenty local government areas the state, said over three hundred athletes would participate in Chess, Opon-Ayo and Draught for the mind games.

The Youth and Sports Commissioner pointed out that the competition was designed not just to discover budding talents in Chess, Opon – Ayo, & Draughts, at the grassroots, but also as a way to ensure that Ogun youths have an analytical mind and a well – defined and highly sophisticated thought pattern which he said could unlock any potential.

Also, the Ogun State Director of Sports, Mrs. Iyabo Rotimi hinted that the game would be used to discover raw talents in the game which would prepare them for national and international games.

Meanwhile, the chairman, Technical Committee of the game, Prince Tunji Onatolu said part of the objectives of the game was to allow for rural people to understand sports.

Olusegun Folarin

Sport

NSF 2022 Bid Committee Visits Ogun, Inspects Facilities

By Web News 1210

Ogun State Government says it is ready to host the 21st edition of the National Sports Festival, NSF.

Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Dr Oluwadare Kehinde stated this during an inspection visit by the Evaluation Bid Committee team of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, who were in the State to assess sporting facilities available for hosting of the festival.

Conducting the committee round sporting facilities in Abeokuta, Sagamu and Ijebu-Ode, Dr Kehinde emphasized the state’s readiness to host the biennial sports competition in 2022, pointing out the present administration was passionate about sport development.

Speaking after the inspection, the chairman and leader of the committee, Mr Katmwan Dungse who described facilities available in Ogun State as a top-notch, said they had a better chance of hosting the festival in 2022.

Facilities inspected included MKO Abiola International Stadium, Abeokuta Sports Club, Alake Sports Center, Ijeja, June 12 Cultural Center, Kuto, Abeokuta Grammar School, Gateway International Stadium, Sagamu, NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Sagamu, and Dipo Dina Stadium, Ijebu-Ode.

The winning bid to host the 21st National Sports Festival in 2022 would be announced at the closing ceremony of the 20th edition of the Festival, scheduled for Edo State in March 2020.

Olusegun Folarin