Sport

Ogun Tertiary Institutions Games Begins

By Web News 1166

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

Government to Construct Standard Swimming Pool across Stadia in Ogun

By Web News 993

Ogun State government says it has designed different programmes that will assist in the development of sports in the state.

The Commissioner for Youth and Sports in Ogun State, Dr Oludare Kehinde gave the assurance in Asero at the Egba Sports Development Initiate Stakeholders Forum.

Dr Kehinde, who explained that part of the plans to develop the sports sector in the state included the return of Gateway Tertiary Institution Games, GATIG, Obas Cup as well as mind games, noted that a committee that would drive the initiative had been put in place.

The Commissioner announced that the state government was working with relevant bodies towards the construction of Olympic standard swimming pool across the stadia in the state.

Dr Kehinde, who attributed the poor state of Muda Lawal Stadium to lack of maintenance culture and neglect by the previous administration, commended the initiative of the Egba Divisional Sports Office towards bringing the centre back to life.

Also, former Commissioner for Youth and Sports in the state, Mr Bukola Olopade, who noted that the government alone could not shoulder the responsibility of developing sports in the state, promised to support the initiative towards ensuring that Egba Division becomes a force to be reckoned with in sports.

Earlier, the Egba Divisional Sports Officer, Mr Opeoluwa Osoba had explained that the essence of the forum was to solicit the support of stakeholders in Egbaland to bring the desired change to sports at the grassroots level.

Mr Osoba, who described the situation at the Muda Lawal Stadium as distasteful, said there was the need for stakeholders in Egbaland to assist in repositioning the centre especially with provision of sporting facilities.

Highpoint of the occasion was the inauguration of Egba Sports Development Committee.

Olusegun Folarin