In a bid to develop sports at the grassroot level, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, has assured that his administration would build standard sports centres in every local government areas in the state so as to reduce the rate at which athletes visit stadia or use public roads for sporting activities.
“We will build standard sports centres in every local council development areas so young people don’t have to go all the way to stadium or use public roads to engage in sporting activities”
The governor who was represented by the Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Development,Wahid Enitan Oshodi, made this statement on Tuesday at the First Town Hall Meeting on Sports Development with the Governor with the Theme “Sports Development and Social Re- Engineering”
The event organised by the Lagos State Sports Endowment Fund has been in the doldrums after its existence since nineteen ninety and it becomes imperative to harness the potential of the youths through the State Sports Endowment Fund.
“Building sports in our state will give the youths he opportunity to engage with inspiring adult figures in a safe environment. It will guide the youth in the best path for their futures”
Fashola, who explained that his administration would not relent in its efforts to create an enabling environment for youths to thrive in sporting activities, said building a well structured sports would give the youths the opportunity to engage with inspiring adult figures in a safe environment as it would guide them in the best path for their futures.
“Last year, the state successfully hosted the 18th National Sports Festival which brought together sports talents from all over the country. We intend to replicate thi success, even with the home grown competitions and programmes that will help us to discover and develop talents in the state’
He said the success of the last Eighteenth National Sports Festival tagged EKO 2012 Games would be replicated with series of competitions and programmes that would help the state to discover and develop talents to stardom.
He said the Sports Endowment Fund was a public- private initiative and it would be the responsibility of the stakeholders to support the state government to develop sports infrastructure since government alone can not improve the standard of sports, stressing that the involvement of the youths in sports reduces delinquent behaviour among them.
“Partner with us to fulfil our promises to the youths Help us to bring them closer to the promise of a better future because in the long run, we all stand to benefit from their success as sportsmen as citizens and as future leaders.”
