Ogun State Govt reiterates commitment to hosting best National Sports Festival
Bankole Taiwo, Abeokuta
The Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun has disclosed that his administration’s commitment to host the best National Sports Festival in the history of the country is unwavering and intact.
Gov. Abiodun disclosed this at the grand finale of the State 5-Aside Street Soccer Tournament, held in Abeokuta, the State capital.
Represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Youth and Sports, Olamide Lawal, the Governor revealed that the state government had shown serious commitment about the hosting of NSF with the signing of Memorandum of Understanding with the Federal Ministry of Sports.
He added that all plans have been made towards the successful hosting of the sporting fiesta holding next year, disclosing that the right stakeholders have been engaged.
The Governor said, “The government is also putting its mind in sports development and that is one of the reasons why we effortlessly bided for hosting of the National Sports Festival and to the glory of God, we have won it, we have signed MoU and we have the assurance that Ogun State is going to give the best of National festival in the history of Nigeria.”
He said, “Look at the covering of the M.K. O Abiola stadium seats, they thought it will not be possible but within short period of time, the stadium was covered.”
“Every plan is on ground, consultants are working, various companies have been engaged. We are really on course to host the best of the sport festival.”
Speaking on the soccer tournament, he said the primary objective is to bring together young people from the streets, most of them that did not have club but have the talent in them and help them showcase it to the world.“
He added, “We have used this tournament to also engage them so as to discourage them from social vices. We have used this competition to empower them. We have created activities for them and it is a means to develop sports in Ogun State.”
Abiodun who pledged that the competition will be sustained, called for more public private partnership in developing sports sector in the state, saying government alone cannot develop sports.
Meanwhile, Victory FC of Ifo local government defeated The Tigers of Ewekoro LG by two goals to one to clinch N500,000 star prize of the competition while the sum of N300,000 and N200,000 went the way of the first and second runner-up respectively.
